Vibrational sum frequency generation (SFG) spectroscopy was utilized to distinguish different populations of water molecules within the electric double layer (EDL) at the silica/water interface. By systematically varying the electrolyte concentration, surface deprotonation, and SFG polarization combinations, we provide evidence of two regions of water molecules that have distinct pH-dependent behavior when the Stern layer is present (with onset between 10 and 100 mM NaCl). For example, water molecules near the surface in the Stern layer can be probed by the pss polarization combination, while other polarization combinations (ssp and ppp) predominantly probe water molecules further from the surface in the diffuse part of the electrical double layer. For the water molecules adjacent to the surface within the Stern layer, upon increasing the pH from the point-of-zero charge of silica (pH ∼2) to higher values (pH ∼12), we observe an increase in alignment consistent with a more negative surface with increasing pH. In contrast, water molecules further from the surface appear to exhibit a net flip in orientation upon increasing the pH over the same range, which we attribute to the presence of the Stern layer and possible overcharging of the EDL at lower pH. The opposing pH-dependent behavior of water in these two regions sheds new light on our understanding of the water structure within the EDL at high salt concentrations when the Stern layer is present.

Specific ion effects (SIEs) are known to influence the acid/base behavior of silica and the interfacial structure of water, yet evidence of the effect of pH on SIEs is lacking. Here broadband vibrational sum frequency generation (SFG) spectroscopy was used to study SIEs on the water structure at the electrical double layer (EDL) of silica as a function of pH and monovalent cation identity from pH 2-12 at 0.5 M salt concentration. SFG results indicate a direct Hofmeister series of cation adsorption at pH 8 (Li < Na < K < Cs), with an inversion in this series occurring at pH > 10. In addition, an inversion in SFG intensity trends also occurred at pH < 6, which was attributed to contributions from asymmetric cation hydration and EDL overcharging. The highly pH-dependent SIEs for silica/water have implications for EDL models that often assume pH-independent parameters.

Historically, different pH dependent behaviour at the mineral oxide/aqueous electrolyte interface has been observed by non-resonant second harmonic generation (SHG) and resonant sum frequency generation (SFG), despite a general understanding that both techniques are dominated by the response of water. Here we compare the two at the silica/aqueous interface at high salt concentration and as a function of pH to shed light on the origins of both measurements. From this comparison and SHG measurements at the silica/air interface, we conclude that SHG originates from the net order of water and the silica substrate, with the latter dominating the observed intensities below pH 6.5. In contrast, SFG is dominated by the higher SF activity, yet lower number density, of waters that contribute in the low wavenumber range, according to molecular dynamic simulations. Furthermore, spectral resolution in SFG of oppositely oriented water populations prevents cancellation of signal making it more difficult to relate SF intensity to the net order of water.

The electric double layer governs the processes of all charged surfaces in aqueous solutions; however, elucidating the structure of the water molecules is challenging for even the most advanced spectroscopic techniques. Here, we present the individual Stern layer and diffuse layer OH stretching spectra at the silica/water interface in the presence of NaCl over a wide pH range using a combination of vibrational sum frequency generation spectroscopy, heterodyned second harmonic generation, and streaming potential measurements. We find that the Stern layer water molecules and diffuse layer water molecules respond differently to pH changes: unlike the diffuse layer, whose water molecules remain net-oriented in one direction, water molecules in the Stern layer flip their net orientation as the solution pH is reduced from basic to acidic. We obtain an experimental estimate of the non-Gouy−Chapman (Stern) potential contribution to the total potential drop across the insulator/electrolyte interface and discuss it in the context of dipolar, quadrupolar, and higher order potential contributions that vary with the observed changes in the net orientation of water in the Stern layer. Our findings show that a purely Gouy−Chapman (Stern) view is insufficient to accurately describe the electrical double layer of aqueous interfaces.

The electric double layer governs the processes of all charged surfaces in aqueous solutions, however elucidating the structure of the water molecules is challenging for even the most advanced spectroscopic techniques. Here, we present the individual Stern layer and diffuse layer OH stretching spectra at the silica/water interface in the presence of NaCl over a wide pH range using a combination of vibrational sum frequency generation and heterodyned second harmonic generation techniques and streaming potential measurements. We find that the Stern layer water molecules and diffuse layer water molecules respond differently to pH changes: unlike the diffuse layer, whose water molecules remain net-oriented in one direction, water molecules in the Stern layer flip their net orientation as the solution pH is reduced from basic to acidic. We obtain an experimental estimate of the non-Gouy-Chapman (Stern) potential contribution to the total potential drop across the insulator/electrolyte interface and discuss it in the context of dipolar, quadrupolar, and higher order potential contributions. We quantify how these contributions result in a considerable influence on the vibrational lineshapes. Our findings show that a purely Gouy-Chapman (Stern) view is insufficient to accurately describe the electrical double layer of aqueous interfaces.