Surface-enhanced infrared absorption spectroscopy (SEIRAS) as a tool for in situ study of the electrochemical interface

COLL 308

Masatoshi Osawa, Catalysis Research Center, Hokkaido University, Sapporo, 001-0021, Japan and Hiroto Miyake, Graduate School of Environmental Earth Science, Hokkaido University, Sapporo, 060-0810, Kazakhstan.
Infrared absorption of molecules is enhanced remarkably when they are adsorbed on some metal surfaces consisting of nanoparticles (islands). The nano-sized morphology facilitates the interaction of IR photons with the metal and the adsorbed molecules, resulting in the enhanced absorption. The enhancing mechanism is discussed using a simple electromagnetic theory. Then the application of this effect to electrochemistry will be reported by focusing on adsorption of molecules (CO. Benzene, pyridine, etc.) on Cu electrodes.