Characterization of Surfaces by Vibrational Spectroscopy: The Electrode Surface In-Situ

Recent advances in the application of infrared spectroscopy to the study of magnetic disk surfaces with regard to analysis of lubricant thickness, extent of coating oxidation, impurities present, etc. have been shown to be useful in that the analysis need not be performed in a vacuum apparatus nor need the sample be destroyed. The infrared approach in the above applications has in many cases been reduced to useful empirical methods, but the technique typically relies on the superior throughput and sensitivity of Fourier transform infrared spectrometers (FTIR). Due to the advent of readily obtainable FTIR spectrometers, it is now possible to take infrared spectra of monolayer amounts of molecules adsorbed on surfaces.