Influence of solvent on the infrared spectrum of carbon monoxide adsorbed on platinum electrodes

Abstract

The behavior of adsorbed carbon monoxide on platinum was studied using potential difference infrared spectroscopy. Three solvents and three electrolytes were chosen, and data gathered at both high and low adsorbate coverages. The rate of change of IR peak position with applied potential, the Stark tuning rate, was used as an indicator of the local electric field strength at the interface. It was determined that neither solvated cation size nor bulk dielectric constant accounts for the changes in Stark tuning rate with different solvents.