In this paper, we consider the adsorption of the cyanide
ion (CN) at the gold electrode surface. This
system has been studied quite extensively in the literature
by vibrational techniques such as surface and tip
enhanced Raman spectroscopy (SERS and TERS), infrared
spectroscopy (IR), sum frequency generation
(SFG) [1–7], as well as by scanning tunneling microscopy
(STM) combined with ultra-high vacuum (UHV)
characterization techniques [8]. Cyanide is of fundamental
interest as a strongly adsorbing molecular anion
at the electrode surface, and for comparison with the
adsorption properties of the iso-electronic carbon
monoxide (CO). From a practical point-of-view, many
electroplating solutions contain cyanide anions, as they
are known to improve plating quality.