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Free keywords:
Interfaces,Liquids;Solution chemistry;X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy;Gases
Abstract:
Even though ambient pressure X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (APXPS) is best known for studies of solid-vapor interfaces, there has been a long history of its application to investigations on liquid-vapor interfaces. The ability of APXPS to probe concentration gradients at surfaces under reaction conditions is particularly important for investigations of liquid-vapor interfaces, since it is by now well-established that the propensity of solutes for the liquid-vapor interface can vary widely, with consequences for the pathways of heterogeneous reactions. Here we discuss some of the relevant aspects of APXPS experiments on liquid-vapor interfaces, such as the preparation of liquid surfaces inside a vacuum chamber, and binding energy referencing and quantification of the data, including depth profiling. We also show three examples of APXPS studies that illustrate the breadth of the scientific questions and technical approaches in this field. The chapter closes with brief remarks on some of the most intriguing developments in this area.
