Adsorbates at Interfaces studied by Nonlinear Optics

Abstract

Second-order nonlinear optical techniques have been demonstrated to be highly surface specific. The adsorption of monolayers at various interfaces, e.g., metal/vacuum, glass/water or water/air, etc., can be probed with a submonolayer sensitivity. Detailed molecular information, such as the mean orientational distribution of the surface molecules, the surface concentration of adsorbates, the nonlinearity of adsorbates, and so on, can be deduced from the measurements.