Theoretical analysis of catalytic current-potential curves: Part I. First-order regeneration mechanisms at different electrolysis regimes

The article describes a general treatment of the catalytic reaction mechanism at an electrode expanding in accord with any power law, the stationary electrode and the dropping mercury electrode being special cases. Reversible, irreversible and quasi-reversible electrode reactions are embraced by the treatment. A general expression for the current-voltage characteristic was derived, which was applied to different electrolysis regimes. The cases when the regeneration reaction will influence the catalytic wave characteristics are also discussed.