A quantitative simulation method for electrochemical infrared and Raman spectroscopies of single-crystal metal electrodes

Abstract

In-situ electrochemical infrared (EC-IR) and Raman (EC-Raman) spectroscopies are powerful tools for characterizing electrochemical interfacial structures. However, the electrochemical interfaces even for model systems such as single-crystal electrode/electrolyte interfaces are usually very complexly related to the applied potential, adsorbates, electrolyte ions and solvent. As a result, the observed EC-IR and -Raman spectra including the potential-dependent vibrational frequencies and spectral intensities are difficult to be unambiguously interpreted for over four decades. By combining vibrational spectra simulations with electrochemical interface models, we developed a computational method capable of quantitatively simulating EC-IR and EC-Raman spectra observed in the classic metal single-crystal electrochemical systems. In this work, we introduce in detail the theoretical derivation and the optimization of computational parameters for the method. The selections of applied potential, vibrational model, as well as electrode surface configuration are further elaborated for the exact simulation of electrochemical infrared and Raman spectra of the ordered CO adstructures at the Pt(1 1 1) electrode/0.1 M perchloric acid solution interface. The developed method can be expanded to simulate the spectral features in different specific adsorption systems for understanding more complicated materials and interface structures.