Effects of Surface Treatment and Carboxylic Acid and Anhydride Molecular Dipole Moments on the Volta Potential Values of Zinc Surfaces

• Published in: Journal of physical chemistry. C Vol. 117; no. 4; pp. 1712 - 1721
• Main Authors: Taheri, P, Pohl, K, Grundmeier, G, Flores, J. R, Hannour, F, de Wit, J. H. W, Mol, J. M. C, Terryn, H
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Columbus, OH American Chemical Society 31.01.2013
• Subjects: Catalysis; Catalysts: preparations and properties; Chemistry; Condensed matter: electronic structure, electrical, magnetic, and optical properties; Condensed matter: structure, mechanical and thermal properties; Electron states and collective excitations in thin films, multilayers, quantum wells, mesoscopic and nanoscale systems; Electronic structure and electrical properties of surfaces, interfaces, thin films and low-dimensional structures; Exact sciences and technology; General and physical chemistry; Physics; Solid surfaces and solid-solid interfaces; Surfaces and interfaces; thin films and whiskers (structure and nonelectronic properties); Theory of reactions, general kinetics. Catalysis. Nomenclature, chemical documentation, computer chemistry; Electronic properties; Fourier transform spectroscopy; Kelvin probe; Surface treatments; Carboxylic acids; Zinc; Surface effect; Interfaces; Interface properties; Adsorption; Dipole moments; Surface potential; X-ray photoelectron spectra
• ISSN: 1932-7447; 1932-7455
• DOI: 10.1021/jp3096049

This study investigates the Volta potentials of the differently treated zinc surfaces and the interface dipole moments after adsorption of carboxylic acid and anhydride molecules on zinc surfaces by means of scanning Kelvin probe (SKP). The interfacial bonding properties of carbonaceous contamination as well as adsorbed succinic acid, myristic acid, and succinic anhydride molecules with zinc substrates have been investigated using Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS). The variation of the Volta potential due to the treatments applied on zinc was evaluated by means of SKP. Moreover, the dipole moments of adsorbed carboxylic acid and anhydride molecules were measured and correlated to surface hydroxyl fractions and oxide electronic properties. The results clearly showed that the zinc Volta potential varies with the oxide composition, resistance, and the configuration of the molecules adsorbed.