Structural and Kinetic Phenomena Observed during the Anodic Polarization of Metals

Publisher Website
Google Scholar
Abstract
Descriptions are given of a variety of methods which are useful in studying reactions occurring at electrodes. For the structural investigations involved, the methods of ordinary microscopy, electron microscopy, electron and X-ray diffraction are especially valuable. For following the actual progress of an electrode reaction, the ordinary Potentiometric or oscillographic methods may be used, but for both these, it is an advantage to stabilize either the current or the voltage. The application of these methods is illustrated by examples of anodic reactions which have been studied in the Newcastle laboratories. This survey brings out clearly the importance of combined electrochemical and structural studies in elucidating the mechanism of the changes occurring at electrode surfaces. In earlier electrochemical work, the inadequacy of techniques then available prevented the exploration of the reaction mechanism under a wide range of experimental conditions. Our results illustrate the much greater possibilities arising out of the application of modern methods of experimentation.