PH-Induced Changes in the SERS Spectrum of Thiophenol at Gold Electrodes during Cyclic Voltammetry.

ABSTRACT: Thiophenol is a model compound used in the study of self-assembly of arylthiols on gold surfaces. In particular, changes in the surface-enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) spectra of these self-assembled monolayers (SAMs) with a change of conditions have been ascribed to, for example, differences in orientation with respect to the surface, protonation state, and electrode potential. Here, we show that potential-induced changes in the SERS spectra of SAMs of thiophenol on electrochemically roughened gold surfaces can be due to local pH changes at the electrode. The changes observed during the potential step and cyclic voltammetry experiments are identical to those induced by acid-base switching experiments in a protic solvent. The data indicate that the potential-dependent spectral changes, as

SUBMITTER: Steen JD 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC9082592 | biostudies-literature | 2022 May

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature