Experiments on adsorption at hydrous metal oxide surfaces using attenuated total reflection infrared spectroscopy (ATRIRS) (IUPAC Technical Report)

Abstract

Abstract This article seeks to encourage the adoption of modern methods of surface analysis in teaching contexts by introducing the use of attenuated total reflection infrared spectroscopy (ATRIRS) in analysis of adsorption reactions at hydrous metal oxide thin films. The first experiment shows how outer-sphere adsorption of perchlorate ion is distinguished from inner-sphere adsorption of ethanedioate (oxalate) ion at TiO2 surfaces. The second experiment shows how the nature of adsorption of sulfate ion to iron oxide surfaces changes with pH. In the third experiment, the variation of the amount of benzene-1,2-diol (catechol) adsorbed to TiO2 with solution concentration enables an adsorption constant to be derived from the adsorption isotherm.