NEW SOL-GEL ATTENUATED TOTAL-REFLECTION INFRARED SPECTROSCOPIC METHODFOR ANALYSIS OF ADSORPTION AT METAL-OXIDE SURFACES IN AQUEOUS-SOLUTIONS - CHELATION OF TIO2, ZRO2, AND AL2O3 SURFACES BY CATECHOL, 8-QUINOLINOL, AND ACETYLACETONE

A new sol-gel method has been used to study, by in situ internal refle ction infrared spectroscopy, the adsorption of coordinating ligands on to metal oxide surfaces from dilute aqueous solutions. Good sensitivit y has been achieved in spectra obtained from a single internal reflect ion for catechol, 8-quinolinol, and acetylacetone adsorbed to TiO2, Zr O2, and Al2O3 gel layers. The spectra indicate that the adsorbates bin d to surface metal ions as bidentate ligands and that more than one li gand may be bound to some surface metal ions.