Photoemission and other photoexcitations as probes of the solid–liquid interface

Abstract

Two ways of determining information about solid–liquid electrochemical interfaces on an atomic scale are in situ studies generally involving an optical probe and ex situ studies of electrodes transferred to vacuum. In situ photocurrent spectroscopy provides an approach bridging the gap between in situ optical spectroscopy and conventional electron spectroscopy measured ex situ. The method is sensitive to adsorbates, as shown by the observation of adsorption of a precursor to the electrochemical oxidation of Pt and Zn. In addition, bandgap, and band position information has been obtained for multilayer film formation in the electrochemical growth of oxides on Pt, Zn, and Ni. Coupling of these measurements with photoelectron spectroscopy provides a novel way of exploring the electronic structure of electrochemical interfaces.