On the occurrence of the central line (∼1025 cm−1) in the SERS spectra of pyridine adsorbed on silver hydrosols

The occurrence of a central line at ∼1025 cm−1 between the surface-enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) bands of pyridine at 1008 and 1036 cm−1 has been first detected in silver hydrosols. This band, which has no counterpart in the Raman spectrum of the free ligand, is observed in acidic aqueous suspension as corresponding to that observed in an electrochemical cell and attributed to adsorption of pyridinium cation. When pyridine is adsorbed on an aged colloid in an alkaline medium two different species are detected. A central band at about the same wave number occurs, attributable to pyridine bound to silver ion cluster on the metal surface, oxidised by ambient air.