Cathodic Reduction of Chromium on a Surface of Nickel Modified by Aromatic Carboxylic Acids

Effect of organic compounds (salicylic, acetylsalicylic, and p-nitrobenzoic acids) adsorbed on a nickel surface or introduced into solution on the cathodic reduction of Cr(VI) is studied by measuring voltammetric curves in a wide potential range up to the beginning of electrodeposition of black chromium. If the adsorbate is salicylic or p-nitrobenzoic acid, only the maximum current corresponding to incomplete reduction Cr(VI) Cr(III) increases in cathodic polarization curve (PC). On a surface modified by acetylsalicylic acid, in addition to an increase in the maximum current, all parts of PC shift towards positive potentials. The Cr(VI) reduction on modified surfaces accelerates presumably due to the electron transfer from the cathode surface onto Cr(VI) atoms, accelerated by the formation of bridges with an increased electron conduction.