Ac. Chen et al., Electrochemical and FTIR studies of 4-cyanopyridine adsorption at the gold(111) vertical bar solution interface, J ELEC CHEM, 475(2), 1999, pp. 130-138
Subtractively normalized interfacial Fourier transform infrared spectroscop
y (SNIFTIRS) has been employed to study the adsorption of 4-cyanopyridine (
4-CNPy) at the Au(111) electrode surface. The vibrational spectra have been
used to study the character of surface coordination and the stability of a
dsorbed 4-CNPy molecules. Our studies show that 4-CNPy molecules are totall
y desorbed from the Au(111) surface at potentials lower than -0.7 V versus
SCE and that they adsorb at the gold surface at more positive potentials. A
t potentials lower than 0.05 V versus SCE, the adsorption has a non-dissoci
ative character. The 4-CNPy molecules are initially oriented flat (pi-bonde
d) on the electrode surface and reorient from the flat to a vertical State
when the electrode potential approaches 0 V (SCE). When the potential is gr
eater than 0.05 V versus SCE, the character of 4-CNPy adsorption becomes di
ssociative and the adsorbed molecules partially hydrolyze to form isonicoti
namide (INA). The IR spectra acquired at very positive potentials indicate
that 4-CNPy is oxidized at E > 0.6 V versus SCE. (C) 1999 Elsevier Science
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