Electrochemical study of thorium in dimethylsulfoxide and propylene carbonate

Solutions of ThCl₄ in anhydrous dimethylsulfoxide or propylene carbonate have been investigated by dc polarography and controlled potential chronoamperometry on a hanging mercury drop electrode. The results are interpreted by assuming that the cathodic reduction of thorium on mercury proceeds through one step Th(IV)+4 e→Th(0) (E^1/2??1.65V vs. SCE in DMSO); however, the results obtained indicate that the reduction gives rise to the the formation of an autoinhibiting monoatomic layer of thorium; further reduction of thorium on this requires an overpotential (E^1/2??2.15 V vs. SCE in DMSO).The mean value for the maximal superficial concentration of thorium in the film deduced from these experiments equals 1.25×10^?9 mol cm^?2, whereas the value for a hexagonal close-packed layer is 1.5×10^?9 mol cm^?2.