Surface-enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) on copper electrodeposited under nonequilibrium conditions

Rough Cu surfaces, with pattern formation, were obtained by a nonequilibriu m electrodeposition from acidic electrolyte. Wavelength dispersive spectrom eter (WDS)/energy-dispersive spectrometer (EDS) investigations revealed tha t such surfaces are highly oxidized. Surface enhanced Raman scattering (SER S) investigations confirmed a complex structure and composition of such a s ubstrate; a distinct difference in spectral characteristics of an adsorbate on Cu2O, pure metallic Cu clusters, and some other, not yet well character ized, metallic Cu clusters, which predominate on the copper surfaces activa ted by standard electrochemical methods, were identified and distinguished. (C) 1999 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.