Electrolyte Cation Effects on Interfacial Acidity and Electric Fields.

ABSTRACT: Electrolyte cation identity can have large effects on electrocatalysis by influencing the interfacial electric field, structure, or local pH. However, the specific role(s) of cations is not clear. Herein, we probed electrolyte cation effects on interfacial acidity and electric fields as a function of applied potential ( ϕapp ) for mixed self-assembled monolayers (SAMs) of 4-mercaptobenzoic acid and 4-mercaptobenzonitrile on gold using Li⁺, Na⁺, K⁺, ND₄ ⁺, or tetrabutylammonium (TBA⁺) phosphate electrolytes by surface-enhanced infrared absorption spectroscopy. The small cations showed only subtle differences in their effects on acidity and electric fields. In contrast, electrolytes containing the large TBA⁺ gave mu

SUBMITTER: Delley MF 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12306796 | biostudies-literature | 2022 May

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature