Simultaneous raman and cyclic voltammetry study of the redox behavior of 4,4′-bipyridine on silver

The advantage of using an optical multichannel Raman spectrometer to record vibrational spectra of adsorbates simultaneously with electrochemical studies is considerable. In this study, Ag(I)-4,4′-bipyridine complex formation was monitored during the anodization of silver. At negative potentials the reduction of adsorbed bipyridine was found to depend upon the bulk bipyridine concentration. Surface enhanced Raman scattering enabled the surface redox reactions to be distinguished from those of bipyridine in solution.