Acetic acid adsorption on smooth Pt electrodes: Measuring the rate of double-layer organization and rearrangement

Abstract Acetic acid adsorption on platinum was used as a probe of the structure of the electrical double layer containing reversibly interacting surface components. The critical role of the electrode potential in bonding and surface equilibria is illuminated. It is concluded that adsorption of acetic acid occurs on the top of an intermediate water monolayer adsorbed directly onto the electrode surface. The mechanism of acetic acid desorption through “desorption stimulated by adsorption” is discussed.