ELECTROREFLECTANCE SPECTRA OF EMERSED METAL-ELECTRODES

The reflectance spectra of Au and Ag electrodes were measured in the VIS-UV range after removal from aqueous electrolyte under potentiostatic control. It is shown, that the relative change, ΔR R, in the reflectance spectrum of the electrode, obtained by emersion at two different electrode potentials, is virtually the same as an in situ electroreflectance spectrum for the corresponding potential modulation. This demonstrates that the surface charge of the metal electrode induced by the electrode potential, is quantitatively retained during and after removal from the electrolyte, and it confirms the observation that the electric double layer of an electrode remains intact during and after emersion. The electroreflectance spectra of removed Au and Ag electrodes are shown and discussed. Emphasis is placed on the implications of these procedures for far UV electroreflectance measurements on metal surfaces utilizing synchrotron radiation. © 1979.