Oriented Thiocyanate Anions at the Air−Electrolyte Interface and Its Implications on Interfacial Water - A Vibrational Sum Frequency Spectroscopy Study

High Resolution Image Download MS PowerPoint Slide We used infrared-visible sum frequency spectroscopy (IR-VIS SFG) to study the interfacial composition and structure of aqueous potassium thiocyanate electrolyte solutions. The IR-VIS SFG spectra reveal an enrichment of the thiocyanate ions at the air−electrolyte interface. They also give access to the vibrational features of the interfacial water, which are affected by the presence of the ions. Polarization-dependent measurements have been used for a determination of the orientation of the pseudohalide anion. The combined data gives a picture of the interfacial architecture on a molecular scale.