Sum-frequency spectroscopy has been used to obtain the vibrational spe
ctra of two molecules, potassium oleate and sodium octanoate, adsorbed
at the iron-water interface. These two molecules reduce the friction
of iron-steel contacts: the surface structures inferred from the vibra
tional spectra indicate how these molecules lubricate iron under aqueo
us solutions. Potassium oleate causes a reduction in the friction of i
ron surfaces at 10 mM; the strength and phase of the resonances in the
vibrational spectra of oleate indicate that a bilayer was adsorbed at
the iron surface at this concentation. Sodium octanoate reduces the f
riction of iron surfaces under anodic potentials. The vibrational spec
tra of adsorbed octanoate did not contain any resonances at any applie
d potential: this observation suggests that a completely disordered fi
lm was adsorbed at iron. The comparison between the coefficients of fr
iction suggests that the more ordered films formed by oleate are more
effective at lubricating than the disordered octanoate films.