The purpose of this investigation is to study the ionic liquid/quartz interface with sum frequency generation vibrational spectroscopy (SFG). SFG spectroscopy was chosen for this study because of its unique ability to yield vibrational spectra of molecules at an interface. Different polarization combinations are used, which probe different susceptibilities, giving SFG the ability to determine molecular orientation at the interface. The ionic liquids used were 1-butyl-3-methylimidazolium tetrafluoroborate, [BMIM][BF(4)], and 1-butyl-3-methylimidazolium hexafluorophosphate, [BMIM][PF(6)]. To determine the influence of the molecular structure and charge on orientation at the interface, neutral, 1-methylimidazole, and 1-butylimidazole were also studied. Raman spectra and depolarization ratios were obtained for neat samples of 1-methylimidazole, 1-butylimidazole, and 1-butyl-3-methylimidazolium tetrafluoroborate recorded from 2700 to 3300 cm(-1). SFG spectra of the 1-methylimidazole/quartz interface showed both methyl and aromatic C-H vibrations. Orientation calculations determined that the ring of the molecule is tilted 45-68 degrees from normal, with the methyl group oriented 32-35 degrees from normal. The SFG spectra of 1-butylimidazole contain several resonances from the alkyl chain with only one weak resonance from the aromatic ring. Orientation calculations suggest that the ring is lying in the plane of the surface with the methyl group pointing 43-47 degrees from normal. The orientation of the [BMIM][PF(6)] ionic liquid was sensitive to trace amounts of water and had to be evacuated to <3 x 10(-5) Torr for the water to be removed. SFG spectra of both ionic liquids were similar, displaying resonances from the alkyl chain as well as the aromatic ring. Orientation analysis suggests the aromatic ring was tilted 45-90 degrees from normal for [BMIM][BF(4)], while the ring for [BMIM][PF(6)] was tilted 38-58 degrees from normal. This suggests the orientation of the molecule is influenced by the size of the anion.

An n-alkanethiol, octadecanethiol (ODT), monolayer was successfully prepared onto an oxide-free mild steel (MS) surface under cathodic polarization in a 0.1 M LiCl/CH(3)OH solution containing 1 mM ODT. Cyclic voltammetry (CV) and electrochemical impedance (EIS) and sum frequency generation (SFG) spectroscopy were applied to study and characterize the adsorption of ODT at a MS surface. In 0.1 M LiCl/CH(3)OH solution containing 1 mM ODT, CV of the MS electrode shows a dramatic decrease in charging current and a positive shift in oxidation potential when compared to a solution without ODT. The interfacial capacitance was obtained as 2.52 microF/cm(2) from the impedance data. An average chain tilt angle of 48 degrees for the ODT molecules was deduced from the comparison of the interfacial capacitances of the ODT/MS and ODT/Au monolayers. X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy confirmed the formation of the ODT monolayer on mild steel. The ppp SFG spectrum of the ODT-modified MS features three strong methyl vibrational modes at 2877, 2943, and 2967 cm(-1), indicating the formation of the oriented and densely packed ODT monolayer. However, the appearance of the two weak CH(2) groups' vibrational modes at 2850 and 2914 cm(-1) implies the presence of defects in the ODT monolayer. ODT/Au films were prepared to compare with the ODT/MS films. Orientation analysis of the air/solid interface suggests that the methyl group of ODT/Au films has a tilt angle of 30 degrees , while the methyl group of ODT/MS films has a tilt angle of 23 degrees . Water was found to have an impact on the shape of the SFG spectra of ODT/MS. This suggests that the solution penetrated through the defects to reach the MS surface.

The room-temperature ionic liquid/hydrophobic quartz interface was examined using sum frequency generation vibrational spectroscopy in the C-H stretching region to develop a more detailed model of how ionic liquids absorb to a variety of solid surfaces. Deuterated dodecyltrichlorosilane was synthesized to modify the quartz surface, which produced a hydrophobic quartz interface that had no resonances from C-H stretches. The ionic liquids, 1-butyl-3-methylimidazolium tetrafluoroborate [BMIM][BF 4 ] and 1-butyl-3-methylimidazolium hexafluorophosphate [BMIM][PF 6 ], and neutral derivatives, 1-methylimidazole and 1-butylimidazole, were used in the analysis. The neutral molecules were examined to compare how shape and charge influenced the orientation of the ionic liquids at a hydrophobic interface. The methyl groups of the four compounds studied were oriented much closer to the surface normal than on the hydrophilic quartz surface. This suggested that the methyl groups were arranged toward the alkylsilane monolayer. The sum frequency generation (SFG) spectra suggest that the imidazolium rings of the ionic liquids are lying in the plane of the interface. Ionic liquids at three different interfacessair/liquid, hydrophobic quartz/liquid, and hydrophilic quartz/liquids were compared.

In situ sum frequency generation vibrational spectroscopy, at varied potentials and polarization combinations, was performed on polycrystalline copper, polycrystalline platinum, and polycrystalline gold samples in 0.5 M HClO4 with 50 mM 5-methylbenzotriazole (5-methylBTAH) added. These studies were performed to determine the orientation of 5-methylBTAH on the surface at different potentials. For copper surfaces, orientation of the molecule on the surface is not affected by potential within the potential window studied (-500 to -100 mV vs saturated calomel electrode (SCE)). Sum frequency generation spectra of 5-methylBTAH on platinum show a change in orientation over the potential range studied (-250 to 750 mV vs SCE). The orientation of the methyl group tilts more toward the plane of the interface as the potential is scanned in the positive direction. This orientation change is correlated to hydrogen coadsorption on the platinum surface at low potentials. 5-Methylbenzotriazole lies in the surface plane or does not orient on gold at lower potentials but the orientation is tilted toward normal at more positive potentials over the potential range studied (-500 to 900 mV vs SCE). To compliment these results, cyclic voltammetry and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy measurements were performed. Cyclic voltammograms of copper show that addition of 5-methylBTAH protects the surface from copper dissolution, increasing the electrochemical window by 450 mV. Cyclic voltammetry of 5-methylBTAH on platinum showed a partial blockage of adsorbed hydrogen and also prevented the adsorption of oxygenated species at 450-600 mV. Cyclic voltammetry on gold shows that 5-methylBTAH blocks oxide formation for 400 mV thus increasing the electrochemical window. Electrochemical impedance spectroscopy has been performed to determine the potential of zero charge of 5-methylBTAH on copper.

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