An SFG and DFG investigation of Au(111), Au(100), Au(110) and Au(210) electrodes in contact with aqueous solutions containing KCN

In this paper, the behaviour of Au(111), (100), (110) and (210) electrodes in contact with pH-neutral aqueous solutions of KCN has been studied as a function of potential by means of in situ sum frequency generation (SFG) and difference frequency generation (DFG) spectroscopies. The contribution of both free and bound electrons has been included. Spectroelectrochemical results were complemented with cyclic voltammetric measurements. The main emphasis in this work has been placed on systematising and quantifying the interaction between the vibrational and electronic structures of the electrodic interfaces studied by the systematic comparison of SFG and DFG spectra measured under the same electrochemical conditions for different crystal orientations.