Electrocatalytic oxidation of ethylene glycol: Part III. In-situ infrared reflectance spectroscopic study of the strongly bound species resulting from its chemisorption at a platinum electrode in aqueous medium

The adsorption of ethylene glycol (EG) at a platinum electrode in aqueous medium was investigated using Electrochemically Modulated Infrared Reflectance Spectroscopy.The adsorption appears to the dissociative at any pH. However, striking changes occur in the composition of the adsorbed layer when the pH is varied from acid to alkaline solutions. Thus, linearly bonded CO is dominant at pH ∼ 1, whereas almost equal amounts of bridge-bonded and linearly bonded CO species are found at pH ∼ 13.No other adsorbed residue has been detected in the experimental conditions observed and for the wavelength ranges investigated. But detailed analysis of the spectroscopic data leads to the conclusion that other adsorbed organic species might be present on the electrode surface, at least in acid medium.     

Electrochemistry of platinum single crystal surfaces: Part II. Structural effect on formic acid oxidation and poison formation on Pt (111), (100) and (110)

The geometrical arrangement of sites favourable for formic acid oxidation and the poison formation reaction is determined using low index platinum single crystal planes. For this determination, the least number of sites required for the reactions to occur, which was obtained in the study of electrocatalysis by adatoms, was used, that is three adjacent sites are required for formic acid oxidation and four adjacent sites are required for poison formation.The triplet of sites on a unit lattice of Pt (111) and that on a unit lattice of Pt (100) plane are equally very favourable for the main oxidation reaction, but that on a unit lattice of Pt (110) is not so favourable as those on the former two planes. The oxidation rate is more than one order of magnitude lower on the latter than on the former triplets.The poison formation reaction proceeds at a very high rate on the (100) and the (110) planes. The geometrical arrangement of four sites on a square unit lattice of the (100) plane and on a rectangular unit lattice of the (110) plane are favourable for the poison formation reaction, but that on a hexagonal unit lattice of the (111) plane is not so favourable as the former two.     

Study of platinum electrodes by means of electrochemistry and low-energy electron diffraction: Part II. Comparison of the electrochemical activity of Pt(100) and Pt(111) surfaces

Low-energy electron diffraction patterns were obtained for Pt(100), Pt(111) and polycrystalline electrodes before and after exposure to aqueous 1 M H₂SO₄. Linear potential scan voltammograms were recorded. The results demonstrate that one of the principal peaks in the hydrogen region of the current-potential curves of polycrystalline Pt is assignable to Pt(100) and the other to Pt(111). The maximum amount of chemisorbed hydrogen corresponds to one hydrogen atom per surface Pt atom. The Pt(100)[1×1], Pt(111) and polycrystalline surfaces appear to withstand prolonged voltammetric characterization at potentials between ?0.2 and 1.2 V vs. a calomel reference. Variation of the voltammetric characteristics of hydrogen chemisorption with changes in the nature of the supporting electrolyte anion are described.     

Adsorption of bromide at the Ag(100) electrode surface

The adsorption and phase formation of bromide on Ag(100) has been studied by chronocoulometry and surface X-ray scattering (SXS). With increasing electrode potential, bromide undergoes a phase transition from a lattice gas to an ordered c(2×2) structure (θ=0.5). The degree of lateral disorder was estimated by comparing the SXS- and the electrochemical measurements. Based on chronocoulometric experiments, a thermodynamic analysis of charge density data was performed to describe the bromide adsorption at the Ag(100) electrode. The Gibbs surfaces excess, electrosorption valencies, Esin–Markov coefficients, and the Gibbs energy of adsorption, lateral interaction energies as well as surface dipole moments have been estimated. The experimental θ versus E- isotherms are modeled employing (i) a quasi-chemical approximation as well as (ii) the results of a recent Monte Carlo simulation. An attempt is made to discuss the structure data and thermodynamic quantities of bromide adsorption on Ag(100) on the basis of the Grahame–Parsons model of the Helmholtz layer.     

Tunnel electrode: Part II. Electron-transfer theory at an n-type semiconductor tunnel electrode

The formula for the cathodic tunnel current at an n-type semiconductor tunnel electrode was derived from the double adiabatic perturbation theory considering the vibration in the first coordination sphere. In the low-temperature limiting case, the apparent difference between the normal and the abnormal regions was observed in both the transfer coefficient α and the activation energy E* as a function of potential. It was concluded that the semiconductor tunnel electrode has advantageous characteristics for investigation of the electron-transfer mechanism at high overvoltage.     

Cu UPD at Pt(100) and stepped faces Pt(610), Pt(410) of platinum single crystal electrodes

The processes of adsorption/desorption of copper adatoms on the basal Pt(100) face and stepped Pt(610), Pt(410) surfaces have been studied in perchloric acid solution by cyclic voltammetry. It has been shown that the positions of the Cu stripping peaks are determined by perfection of the adlayer. The “island” model is suggested to describe electrochemical behavior of the Pt(hkl)+Cu_ad system. Obtained results are important for target modification of shape-controlled nanoparticles that are used in electrocatalysis.     

Ammonia selective oxidation on Pt(100) sites in an alkaline medium

The oxidation of ammonia on platinum surfaces is a structure sensitive reaction that takes place almost exclusively on Pt(100) sites. This report shows how dependent the activity is on different arrangements of (100) sites of platinum. The effect of two-dimensional domains has been addressed by using stepped surfaces having terraces with (100) geometry, either with (111) and (110) steps. The results were compared with those obtained from stepped surfaces having terraces with (111) or (110) symmetry and monatomic (100) steps, thus representing monodimensional (100) domains. The observed behavior confirms the extreme sensitivity of the reaction to the different arrangement of this type of square sites.     

On the electrochemical behaviour of pyruvic and lactic acids at a platinized platinum electrode in acid medium

The electrochemical oxidation of pyruvic and lactic acids at a platinized platinum electrode has been studied in acidic (M H₂SO₄) medium. The oxidation process takes place at potentials more positive than 900–1000 mV (on RHE scale). The final products are acetic acid and CO₂. Unambiguous polarization measurements could be carried out only in the case of preoxidized surfaces. For the interpretation of the phenomena observed, a mechanism involving reactions of organic species with electrochemically formed OH radicals is proposed.Studying the reduction of pyruvic acid, it has been stated that, similar to the behaviour of simple aliphatic ketones, the conversion of the

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group into -CH₂- occurs to a significant extent.     

Vibrational spectroscopy on platinum single-crystal electrodes: Part I. In-situ infrared spectroscopic studies of the adsorption and oxidation of CO on Pt (111) in sulphuric acid

Platinum single-crystal electrodes of 5 mm diameter were prepared for in situ infrared spectroscopic measurements by melting platinum wires. The linear potential sweep voltammograms of hydrogen adsorption/desorption on Pt (111), (110) and (100) in 0.5 M sulphuric acid are in excellent agreement with those observed on smaller platinum single-crystal surfaces.The adsorption and oxidation of CO on Pt (111) in 0.5 M sulphuric acid was studied by in situ polarization modulated infrared reflection absorption spectroscopy. The effects of the initial adsorption potential and surface reconstruction on the nature and oxidation mechanism of the adsorbed CO layer are reported.     

Oxidation of methanol on a platinum electrode in alkaline medium: Effect of metal ad-atoms on the electrocatalytic activity

A mechanistic investigation of the electrochemical oxidation of methanol was worked out in alkaline medium in order to interpret the effect of some foreign metal ad-atoms (Pb. Bi, Cd, Tl) on the electrocatalytic activity of platinum.The rate-determining step being a surface reaction between adsorbed hydroxyls and a methanol chemisorption intermediate, the positive effect met with Pb and Bi may be explained through the bifunctional theory of electrocatalysis, whereas the negative effect met with Cd and Tl may come from the inhibiting behaviour of these latter ad-atoms.     

Structural and spectroscopic studies on Pt.Pt and pi-pi interactions in luminescent multinuclear cyclometalated platinum(II) homologues tethered by oligophosphine auxiliaries

The synthesis and structural, spectroscopic, and electrochemical properties of a series of trinuclear tridentate cyclometalated platinum(II) complexes tethered by bis(diphenylphosphinomethyl)phenylphosphine (dpmp) have been studied and compared with their mono- and binuclear homologues and a propeller-like congener. The X-ray crystal structures of several derivatives show the presence of a variety of intramolecular Pt.Pt, pi-pi, and C-H...O(crown ether) and intermolecular pi-pi interactions. The trinuclear complexes display strong absorption in the 400-600 nm region and show intense red to near-infrared phosphorescence with microsecond lifetimes in fluid and glassy solutions and in the solid state. These emissions are generally assigned as (3)MMLCT [dsigma-->pi(CNN)] in nature. The close similarities between the emission energies in acetonitrile solution and in the solid state at 298 K indicate that comparable Pt.Pt and pi-pi configurations are maintained in both media, and hence a relationship between the photophysical behavior of these lumophores and their solid-state structural features is proposed. The tendencies of the absorption and emission energies to red-shift from mono- to linearly tethered bi- and trinuclear Pt(II) species are evident. A light-emitting electrochemical cell using a trinuclear Pt(II) derivative as emitter has been demonstrated.     

Photoelectron spectroscopic study of simple hydrogen-bonded dimers. II. The methanol dimer

HeI photoelectron spectra of a supersonic jet of methanol vapor have been obtained by using the temperature-controlled supersonic nozzle beam photoelectron spectrometer recently constructed in our laboratory. A HeI spectrum attributable to the methanol dimer (CH₃OH)₂ has been deduced by spectrum stripping. The first ten vertical ionization energies and the first adiabatic ionization energy of (CH₃OH)₂ have been determined from the stripped spectrum. Ab initio SCF MO calculations of ionization energies have also been carried out for (CH₃OH)₂ on the basis of Koopmans' theorem. The lower bound of the dissociation energy of (CH₃OH)₂⁺ has been estimated to be 1.2 ± 0.2 eV from the adiabatic ionization energies of the monomer and dimer. The equilibrium structure of (CH₃OH)₂ is also discussed.     

Infrared spectroscopic study of copper(II) complexes with N-substituted tetrazoles

The i.r. spectra (4000-200 cm⁻¹) of N-alkyltetrazoles and their complexes with copper(II) salts CuCl₂ and Cu(NCS)₂ have been measured. Spectral criteria in the middle and far regions for the identification of tetrazole isomers and their complexes are proposed. The site of the coordination in a tetrazole molecule and supposed structure of complexes are being discussed.     

Quantum mechanical description of electrode reactions: Part II. Treatment of compact layer structure at platinum electrodes by means of the extended Hückel molecular orbital method. Pt(111) surfaces

The Iteraltive Extended Hückel Molecular Orbital method has been adapted to calculation of the properties of an electrode and compact layer. Predictions of the stablest orientations, on the Pt(111) surface of species such as H₂O, Pt, OH^?, H, and the halides, F^?, Cl^?, Br^? and I^?, based upon calculation of the total energy corresponding to various internuclear distances, are reported. The calculations correctly predict self-adsorption of Pt on the Pt(111) surface at the face-centered cubic closest-packing position. The H₂O molecule is predicted to locate itself above three adjoining Pt atoms, with the O atom closest to the surface and the H atoms opposite the O. Similar results were obtained for OH^? and the halides. Atomic H, however, is predicted to drop into the plane of centers of the Pt surface atoms, where it would lie between, three adjacent Pt atoms. Application of the method to electrode studies requires only modest amounts of computer time but produces surprisingly reliable qualitative predictions. Compulation of electrochemical quantities such as charge, differential capacitance, surface tension and potential energy as a function of electrode potential will be described in future work.     

An ab initio periodic study of NiO supported at the Pd(100) surface. Part 1: The perfect epitaxial monolayer

The epitaxial monolayer of NiO on Pd(100) has been theoretically simulated using a hybrid-exchange GGA-DFT Hamiltonian and a slab model, periodic in two dimensions. This "perfect" system is an essential reference for the simulation of nonstoichiometric two-dimensional phases which are formed during the deposition of nickel on palladium in the presence of oxygen. The adequacy of the computational procedure is discussed, especially as concerns the use of a thermal smearing technique which has been adopted to improve the convergence properties of the SCF procedure and to prevent the onset of nonphysical spin-polarized solutions. The equilibrium configuration corresponds to antiferromagnetic order in the overlayer, with oxygens on top of the surface Pd atoms; the ad-film is slightly corrugated with Ni closer to the surface by 0.1 A with respect to O. The interaction energy is quite small, 0.20 eV/NiO unit (about 5 kcal mol(-1)); correspondingly, the electronic and magnetic properties of the Pd slab and the isolated NiO monolayer are only marginally affected by the interaction.     

Quantitative SNIFTIRS studies of (bi)sulfate adsorption at the Pt(111) electrode surface

Subtractively normalized interfacial Fourier transform infrared reflection spectroscopy (SNIFTIRS) was applied to study (bi)sulfate adsorption on a Pt(111) surface in solutions of variable pH while maintaining a constant total bisulfate/sulfate ((bi)sulfate) concentration without the addition of an inert supporting electrolyte. The spectra were recorded for both the p- and s-polarizations of the IR radiation in order to differentiate between the IR bands of the (bi)sulfate species adsorbed on the electrode surface from those species located in the thin layer of electrolyte. The spectra recorded with p-polarized light consist of the IR bands from both the species adsorbed at the electrode surface and those present in the thin layer of electrolyte between the electrode surface and ZnSe window whereas the s-polarized spectra contain only the IR bands from the species located in the thin layer of electrolyte. A new procedure was developed to calculate the angle of incidence and thickness of the electrolyte between the Pt(111) electrode surface and the ZnSe IR transparent window. By combining these values with the knowledge of the optical constants for Pt, H(2)O and ZnSe, the mean square electric field strength (MSEFS) at the Pt(111) electrode surface and for thin layer of solution were accurately calculated. The spectra recorded using s-polarization were multiplied by the ratio of the average MSEFS for p- and s-polarizations and subtracted from the spectra recorded using p-polarization in order to remove the IR bands that arise from the species present within the thin layer cavity. In this manner, the resulting IR spectra contain only the IR bands for the anions adsorbed on the Pt(111) electrode surface. The spectra of adsorbed anions show little change with respect to the pH ranging from 1 to 5.6. This behavior indicates that the same species is predominantly adsorbed on the metal surface for this broad range of pH values and the results suggest that sulfate is the most likely candidate for this adsorbate.     

Redox transformations of adsorbed NO molecules on a Pt(100) electrode

The electrochemical behavior of adsorbed NO molecules on a Pt(100) electrode has been studied in perchloric acid solutions by means of cyclic voltammetry. According to the literature data, a saturated NO adlayer with a coverage of ～0.5 monolayers (MLs) is formed under open circuit conditions in an acidic nitrite solution as a result of a disproportionation reaction. The saturated adlayer is stable in the potential range of 0.4–0.9 V vs. a reversible hydrogen electrode in 0.1 M HClO₄. NO molecules are oxidized at 0.9–1.1 V with the formation of adsorbed nitrite anions, and they can be reduced to ammonia at potentials less than 0.4 V. In this paper it has been shown that the adlayer stability depends on the surface coverage and extent of ordering. An unsaturated NO adlayer demonstrates NO ? NH₃ redox transformations at 0.5–0.8 V.