This book describes the physical basis of polarization modulation infrared reflection-absorption spectroscopy and its application in electrochemical studies. It provides a concise yet comprehensive review of the research done in this field in the last 20 years. Electrochemical methods are used to determine the rate and mechanism of charge transfer reactions between an electrode and species adsorbed or diffusing to its surface. In the past two decades PM-IRRAS has grown to be one of the most important vibrational spectroscopy techniques applied to investigate structural changes taking place at the electrochemical interface. The monograph presents foundations of this technique and reviews in situ studies of redox-inactive and redox-active films adsorbed on electrode surfaces. It also discusses experimental conditions required in electrochemical and spectroscopic studies and presents practical solutions to perform efficient experiments. As such, it offers an invaluable resource for graduate and postgraduate students, as well as for all researchers in academic and industrial laboratories.

Autorentext

Izabella Brand is a Privatdozentin at the Carl von Ossietzky University of Oldenburg, Germany. She graduated in 1997 and obtained her PhD degree in chemistry in 2001 at the University of Warsaw, Poland. After graduation, she spent two years as a postdoctoral researcher at the University of Guelph, Canada. She then worked as research assistant at the Institute of Physical Chemistry, Polish Academy of Sciences, Warsaw, Poland (2004-2005) and at the Carl von Ossietzky University of Oldenburg, Germany (2005-2014), where she habilitated in 2014. Dr. Brand is author and coauthor of almost 50 research papers, 2 book chapters and 1 book.

Inhalt
Introduction 

1. In situ infrared reflection-absorption spectroscopy at the electrode|electrolyte interface 1.1. Introduction to IRRAS 1.2. Reflection of the IR light from mirror surfaces 1.3. Introduction to the stratified systems 1.4. PM IRRAS: background of the technique, measured spectrum, deconvolution, background subtraction 1.5. Qualitative and quantitative analysis 1.6. Requirements of in situ experiments: Experimental conditions which have to be taken into consideration 
2. PM IRRAS for studies of redox-inactive molecular films adsorbed on electrode surfaces 2.1. Redox-inactive films on electrodes: importance of these studies: biomimetic applications (predominantly) 2.2. In situ PM IRRAS of models of cell membranes 2.3. Cell membranes: supported lipid bilayers (LB-LS, vesicles), tethered lipid bilayers, floating lipid bilayers, role of composition, lateral and transverse symmetry 2.4. Interaction of cell membranes with proteins: channel forming proteins, anchor protein, interacting with a polar head group protein 2.5. In situ PM IRRAS of protein films2.6. In situ PM IRRAS of DNA-films 2.7. Other redox-inactive films: n-octadecanol, pyridine  
3. PM IRRAS for studies of redox-active molecular films adsorbed on electrode surfaces 3.1. Redox-active films on electrodes: applications (catalysis, redox-active thin organized films, redox-active thick films) 3.2. Use of in situ PM IRRAS for studies of electrocatalytic processes 3.3. In situ PM IRRAS studies of thin organized films of redox-active molecules: metalloorganic compounds3.4. In situ PM IRRAS studies of thick, redox-active molecular films: polymer films 3.5. Redox-active films on electrodes: applications (catalysis, redox-active thin organized films, redox-active thick films) 3.6. Use of in situ PM IRRAS for studies of electrocatalytic processes3.7. In situ PM IRRAS studies of thin organized films of redox-active molecules: metalloorganic compounds3.8. In situ PM IRRAS studies of thick, redox-active molecular films: polymer films