Determination of the electric field intensities in a mid-infrared spectroelectrochemical cell using attenuated total reflection spectroscopy with the Otto optical configuration

The normalized mean-squared electric field intensities in a thin-layer spectroelectrochemical cell with the attenuated total reflection (ATR) optical configuration have been determined and are compared with those for the overlayer-ATR and normal ATR methods. The components of the system were ZnSe or Ge hemispherical internal reflection elements, a An metal electrode, and water. The calculations were performed for two different values of the molar absorption coefficient for water, namely, k = 0.133 (at 1635 cm(-1)) and k = 0.010 (at 1885 cm(-1)). It was determined that the electric field enhancements in the overlayer-ATR cell can also be found in the thin-layer TL) ATR cell. This is important in that the TL-ATR cell allows greater control over the surface properties of the chosen electrode material.