Morphology of platinum electrodeposits in the three-dimensional sublayer to full layer range produced under different potential modulations on highly oriented pyrolytic graphite

The topography of platinum electrodes produced by electrodeposition (19 to 200 mC cm-2) on highly oriented pyrolytic graphite (HOPG) under different potential modulations was investigated by atomic force microscopy, scanning tunneling microscopy, and H-atom electrosorption voltammetry. To modulate electrodeposition, (i) triangular potential cycling at 0.1 V s-1, (ii) a linear cathodic potential at 0.1 V s-1 and anodic potential step cycling, and (iii) square wave potential cycling at 5000 Hz were utilized. AFM and STM imaging showed that at lower platinum loading the HOPG surface was partially covered by a 3D sublayer of platinum. Electrodes produced by procedure (i) were made of faceted platinum aggregates of about 200 nm and nanoclusters in the range of 5-20 nm; those that resulted from procedure (ii) consisted of anisotropic aggregates of nanoclusters arranged as quasi-parallel domains. These electrodes from (i) and (ii) behaved as fractal objects. The electrodes resulting from procedure (iii) exhibited a flat surface that behaved as a Euclidean object. For all WEs, as the platinum loading was increased the HOPG surface was fully covered by a thin 3D layer of platinum aggregates produced by electrodeposition and coalescence phenomena. Large platinum loading led to electrodes with fractal geometry. Statistical parameters (root-mean-square height, skewedness, kurtosis, anisotropy, Abbot curve, number of protrusions and valleys, and fractal dimension) were obtained from the analysis of AFM and STM imaging data. Platinum electrodeposition coupled to either H-adatom formation for procedures (i) and (ii) or phonon dispersion for (iii) was involved in the surface atom rearrangements related to electrofaceting. The H-adatom electrosorption voltammetry data were used to evaluate the real electrode surface area via the voltammetric charge and to advance a tentative explanation of the contribution of the different crystallographic facets to the global electrochemical process dominated by weak H-Pt adsorption interactions.     

Anodisation of copper in thiourea- and formamidine disulphide-containing acid solution.: Part I. Identification of products and reaction pathway

The anodic behaviour of copper in aqueous 0.5 M sulphuric acid containing different amounts of dissolved thiourea or formamidine disulphide was investigated at 298 K, combining data from electrochemical polarisation, chemical analysis, UV–vis spectroscopy, XPS and EDAX analysis, and structural information on copper–thiourea complexes. The main reactions depend on the applied potential and initial thiourea concentration. In the potential range −0.30≤E≤0.075 V (versus SCE), the electro-oxidation of thiourea to formamidine disulphide, the formation of Cu(I)–thiourea soluble complexes, and Cu(I)–thiourea complex polymer-like films, are the most relevant processes. The formation of this film depends on certain critical thiourea/copper ion molar concentration ratios at the reaction interface. At low positive potentials, the former reaction is under intermediate kinetic control, with the diffusion of thiourea from the solution playing a key role. For E≥0.075 V, soluble Cu(II) ions in the solution are formed and the anodic film is gradually changed to another one consisting of copper sulphide and residual copper. The new film assists the localised electrodissolution of copper. A complex reaction pathway for copper anodisation in these media for the low and high potential range is advanced.     

Voltammetric approach to multicomponent electrochemical systems at platinum electrode surfaces

Adsorption interactions of different systems on electrodispersed and smooth platinum electrodes were explored through anodic stripping voltammetry using a conventional flow cell technique at 25°C. A first adsorbate was formed at the platinum electrode in contact with the solution containing the adsorbable species I, and subsequently the platinum—adsorbate I system was put into contact with a solution containing the adsorbable species II, where I CO, CH₃OH and reduced CO₂, and II C₂H₄, C₂H₂ and CO, and vice versa. The anodic stripping voltammograms revealed either a total or partial displacement of adsorbate I by adsorbate II, or chemical interactions among adsorbed residues I and Il. The following decreasing platinum—adsorbate interaction sequence was established C₂H₂-2 > CO > C₂H₄ > CH₃OH ≈ CO₂.     

Ellipsometry of nickel hydroxide electrodes formed by ex situ chemical precipitation. Potential routine and time effects

Ellipsometric and reflectivity data combined with voltammetric data have been obtained at 546.1 nm for different nickel hydroxide electrodes in 0.01 M NaOH at 25°C. The electrodes were prepared by ex situ chemical precipitation on a polished platinum substrate. The influence of the potential routine applied to the nickel hydroxide electrode on the corresponding optical parameters and time effects for both the oxidized and reduced forms of the active material kept at constant potential have been investigated. The nickel hydroxide layer is described as a mixture of nickel(II) hydroxide, nickel(III) hydroxide and electrolyte—water domains. The kinetic effects are discussed through a complex reaction pathway involving different nickel(II) and nickel(III) hydroxide species, the processes starting preferentially at the borders of the different domains.     

Changes in the growth mode of electrodeposited silver layers: Surface rearrangements induced by the presence of lead adatoms

The surface characteristics of Ag electrodeposits prepared on polyfaceted Pt(sc) electrodes have been followed through complete Pb upd/stripping voltammetry. The growth mode of Ag overlayers at constant temperature depends on both the cathodic electrodeposition overvoltage and the silver ion concentration in solution. Ag surface rearrangements can be induced by either holding the potential or Pb upd/stripping cycling in the potential range where the degree of surface coverage by Pb adatoms is between 0 and 1. The voltammograms of Ag overlayers at the monolayer level show considerable changes compared with those obtained for thicker Ag overlayers. The present results allow us to establish a correlation between the development of rough electrodeposits and the surface diffusion properties of metal atoms.     

Determination of loads applied perpendicularly to the outer boundary of a ring using coefficients of influence

A procedure is explained to determined the amount of several pairs of diametrical loads applied to the outside boundary of a ring when stresses at selected points of the inside or outside boundaries are known. Coefficients of influence are used, following an approach similar to the one presented in a previous paper. Examples of application are given and the possible increase in precision is shown when the number of points of measurements is larger than the number of loads to be determined.