The adsorption of phosphate anions on Ag, Au, and Cu electrodes
from H2O and D2O solutions has
been
studied by means of surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy (SERS).
The interpretation of the spectra based
on the solution Raman data and frequency shifts upon solution
H2O/D2O exchange are presented.
The
prominent band at 1070−1100 cm-1, observed
from adsorbed PO4
3- and
HPO4
2- ions, exhibits
downshifts
of about 10 cm-1 in D2O solutions
and has been assigned to the asymmetric P−O stretching mode.
The
corresponding asymmetric deformation mode has been assigned to the band
located at ∼570 cm-1 which
shows an upshift of 9−15 cm-1 in
D2O solutions. Monodentate surface coordination of the
PO4
3- and
HPO4
2-
ions is proposed. The dependence of the relative intensity of the
internal modes on electrode potential was
interpreted in terms of the migration of P−O groups from the surface
as potential became more negative.
Spectroscopic evidence was found for chemisorption of
H2PO4
- ion on the Cu
electrodes, but no such evidence
was found in the cases of the Au and Ag electrodes. The adsorbed
H2PO4
- ion on Cu showed an
intense
band at ∼907 cm-1 which was assigned to the
symmetric stretching mode of the P−OH groups, based
primarily
on the considerable frequency downshift (∼11
cm-1) and peak broadening (∼15
cm-1) in D2O
solutions.
The formation of a P−O−P bond in the adsorbed state on Cu
electrodes in acidic solutions is suggested.
The force constants derived from experimental metal−oxygen
frequencies are compared for the three electrodes,
and the following strength order has been estimated:
k(Cu−O‘) > k(Au−O‘) >
k(Ag−O‘).