Broadband Spectroelectrochemical Attenuated Total Reflectance Instrument for Molecular Adlayer Studies

The study of thin film molecular architectures is an increasingly important endeavor with respect to the development and characterization of materials ranging from liquid crystalline displays to receptor-based biosensors. Here we describe an apparatus capable of simultaneously acquiring broadband spectroscopic and electrochemical information on molecularly thin films deposited on a transparent electrode surface through a multiple internal reflection geometry. To demonstrate the capabilities of this system, the spectroelectrochemical behavior of a single, neutral copper phthalocyanine bilayer was evaluated.