In situ far-infrared evidence for a potential dependence of silver–water interactions

Abstract

The influence of the adsorption of fluoride on the bonding of water to a silver electrode surface has been studied by observing the ν(Ag–O) stretching vibration in the far-IR. The experiments were conducted using potential-difference external-reflectance spectroscopy with synchrotron radiation as the far-IR source. It was found that the adsorption of fluoride ions at potentials positive of the potential of zero charge (p.z.c.) decreased the coverage of water adsorbed onto the silver electrode surface. At potentials negative of the p.z.c., water molecules were found to be bound to the silver surface through the oxygen atom.