Surface sites of nanomaterials: investigation of local structures by in-situ IR spectroscopy

In this chapter, the possibilities to highlight atomic/molecular details of the surface of nanomaterials by IR spectroscopy of their interaction with molecules in controlled conditions are reviewed. For this objective, information on the experimental setups and procedures is also provided; particular attention has been devoted to the use of different probe molecules (CO, CH3CN, and H2O). Such molecules, when adsorbed in controlled conditions, become useful “molecular tools because of the sensitivity of their vibrational features to the physical/chemical properties of surface sites.