Cyanide adsorbed as a monolayer at the low-index surface planes of platinum metal electrodes: An in situ study by infrared spectroscopy

We report the infrared spectral features for cyanide adsorbed at the low-index surface planes of platinum electrodes. A single vibrational feature is observed for cyanide at Pt(111), and the position and potential dependence of the band coincide with what has been reported for the linear surface cyanide species at polycrystalline silver and gold electrodes. Spectral features associated with the [Pt(CN)₂]^2- complex appear in experiments which probe cyanide adsorption at Pt(100) and Pt(110), indicating the likelihood of surface disordering under these experimental conditions. Similarly, dissolution of the platinum surface to form the [Pt(CN)₂]^2- complex is suggested to explain the low-pH behavior observed for cyanide at polycrystalline platinum electrodes.