Structural changes at the interface between polycrystalline Ag and electrolyte solutions containing surfactants as probe molecules

Structural changes are detected at the interface between polycrystalline Ag electrodes and electrolyte solutions containing surfactants as probe molecules. Capacitance and impedance measurements indicate that in aqueous solutions water and 1-butanol molecules change their position on the electrode due to dipole-field interaction. In methanolic solutions such a change is indicated to occur only for triphenyphosphine oxide molecules. The above changes in both solvents are taking place along with the transition of the adsorbed layer from a dense liquid state to a thinner one with increasing negative potentials.