Sum Frequency Spectroscopic Observation of Aluminol and Water Species
Sum frequency spectroscopy is an interface selective technique which
allows us to determine the chemical composition and geometric structure of a
surface at the molecular level We apply the technique to in situ studies of model mineral surfaces in water. At the
sapphire(001)/water interface, we observe different aluminol species. Also the
interaction of the different species with the adjacent water molecules can be
observed (polar water orientation and type of binding). The spectral band
widths for the different functional species provide information on the number
of hydrogen bonds with neighbouring water molecules and thus information on their
hydrophobic or hydrophilic character. The results are compared with the results
from