Surface Chemistry of Oxides

Abstract

The chemistry of the surface of oxides depends to a large extent on the quantity and type of both physically and chemically (OH groups) absorbed water. Infrared spectroscopy coupled with a variety of chemical exchange processes has provided useful information on the nature and stability of the adsorbed species, and on the interaction of the surface hydroxyl groups with adsorbates at the solid/vapour and solid/liquid interfaces. Electrochemical techniques are used to study the oxide/aqueous solution interface to provide surface charge data and establish zero points of charge, both of which are related to the character of the hydroxyl group and its environment. This paper briefly reviews the application of these methods to the oxides of titanium, silicon and aluminium, in both the pure and mixed forms, and to the study of the deposition of one oxide on the surface of another. © 1976, Walter de Gruyter. All rights reserved.