Lam Wing H. Leung

Some applications of surface Raman and infrared spectroscopies to mechanistic electrochemistry involving adsorbed species

Abstract Some methods are outlined by which surface-enhanced Raman Spectroscopy (SERS) and infrared reflection-absorption Spectroscopy (IRRAS) can be applied to gain mechanistic information for multistep electrode processes involving adsorbed species. Emphasis is placed on approaches in which time-resolved spectra can be obtained in conjunction with conventional electrochemical techniques, enabling simultaneous vibrational and electrochemical kinetic (current-potential-time) information to be obtained during the evolution of irreversible electrode processes. Specific applications to irreversible electroorganic reactions are outlined, employing optical multichannel analyzer and Fourier transform instrumentation for SERS and IRRAS, respectively, in conjunction with linear sweep voltammetry.