First experimental evaluation of partial charge transfer during anion adsorption

The partial charge transfer during anion adsorption cannot be measured in electrochemical experiments or reliably estimated by ab initio quantum-chemical and DFT calculations. However, it is directly involved in the adsorbate charge that is experimentally accessible by in situ contact electric resistance technique. We present the first quantitative evaluation of charge transfer during halides adsorption on silver from aqueous solutions in dependence on the electrode potential. Partial charge transfer from adsorbed bromide and iodide ions to the silver electrode increases with the positive potential shift and may reach complete charge transfer resulting in adatom creation. Chloride adsorption on silver occurs with much lower charge transfer, but on some stainless superalloys it proceeds with substantial charge transfer owing to their specific electronic structure.