Sum-frequency vibrational spectroscopy of water surface covered by an organic monolayer: Structure and interaction

Summary form only given. Sum-frequency generation (SFG) has been demonstrated to be a powerful and versatile tool for vibrational spectroscopy of surfaces and interfaces. Its high surface specificity permits spectroscopic studies of surfaces even in the presence of strong bulk resonant absorption. The technique therefore finds unique applications in interface studies where normal spectroscopic methods would fail because the spectrum would be overwhelmed by bulk contribution. Presented here is an example showing how SFG vibrational spectroscopy can be used as a unique tool to probe the structure of an organic monolayer on water, depending on its interaction with water.