Spectroelectrochemical detection of specifically adsorbed cyanurate anions at gold electrodes with (111) orientation in contact with cyanate and cyanuric acid neutral solutions

The adsorption and reactivity of cyanate at Au(111) single crystal and Au(111)-25nm thin film electrodes is studied spectroelectrochemically in sodium perchlorate solutions and compared to those of cyanuric acid (C3N3O3H3). From the Surface Enhanced Infrared Reflection Absorption spectra obtained under Attenuated Total Reflection conditions (ATR-SEIRAS) it can be concluded that adsorbed cyanate species predominate at the electrode surface for low cyanate concentrations. However, for cyanate concentrations above 1mM, the similarity of the ATR-SEIRA spectra with those obtained in cyanuric acid containing solutions indicates that some species coming from cyanuric acid is formed and adsorbed at the (111) gold surface sites as the result of an electroless trimerization reaction. Taking into account the results of Density Functional Theory (DFT) calculations, the experimental voltammetric and ATR-SEIRAS results agree with the formation of adlayers of specifically adsorbed triketo-monocyanurate species that adsorb perpendicular to the electrode surface. •N-bonded cyanate forms at Au(111) in the presence of low cyanate concentrations.•Specifically adsorbed triketo-monocyanurate is formed for higher concentrations.•Undissociated triketo cyanuric acid interacts weakly with the Au(111) surface.