A specular reflectance cell for variable temperature thin layer spectroelectrochemistry in the infrared and UV-Vis regions was designed and tested. The cell was constructed to fit commercially available FTIRs or UV-Vis spectrophotometers. It requires only a small sample volume. It is simple, rugged, and suitable for use with either aqueous or non-aqueous solutions. The cell employs commercially available optical windows and gaskets. Temperature control was achieved with an external bath/circulator in the range from -55 to+80 o C. The cell's performance was tested in cyclic voltammetry mode with K 4 Fe(CN) 6 and ferrocene. The variable temperature feature of the cell was used to observe for the first time the radical anion of the complex Fe(CO) 3 (η 4 -2,5-norbornadiene at -15 o C.