Visualization of the interfacial turbulence associated with remarkable faradaic current amplification at a polarized water/1,2-dichloroethane interface

We report the first visualization of the interfacial turbulence developed at the polarized water/1,2-dichloroethane interface in the form of rotating surface structures. This leads to a remarkable amplification of the faradaic current (polarographic maximum) associated with the transfer of the Na⁺ ion from 1,2-dichloroethane to water. Interfacial turbulence is visualized at the surface of the sessile electrolyte drop using suspended graphite microparticles as a fluid flow tracer. We show that the magnitude of the faradaic current increases as the circular surface structures rotate more rapidly. The results appear to differ from the profile of the disturbing flow near the mercury/electrolyte interface accompanying polarographic maxima of the first kind.