Electrochemistry of solid-phase reactions: Phase formation in the In2O3-WO3 system. Processes at the WO3|In2O3 and WO3|In6WO12 interfaces

Reactions of interactions at the WO₃|In₂O₃ and WO₃|In₆WO₁₂ heterophase reaction interfaces, whose main product is In₂(WO₄)₃, are studied by electrochemical methods for the first time ever. Due to a far greater n type conductance inherent in the initial substances, the reactions are a model object for the development of methodology of the electrochemical approach. Both reactions are discovered to proceed at the expense of the transport of components of WO₃ and no evidence is discovered for the contribution of In³⁺ into diffusion and migration. Consisted data are obtained between the polarity of a spontaneously generated reaction difference of potentials and the direction of the field that accelerates the reaction: the current that is passed through electrochemical cells accelerates the reactions exclusively at the (−)-potential of a brick of WO₃. A difference is discovered between the charge and mass transport paths—spontaneous and field-induced mass transport of WO₃ or its components occurs via heterophase interfaces and adjacent areas and does not touch upon the In₂(WO₄)₃ grains. Shown is the antibatic character of the behavior exhibited by dependences of identical properties of cells (potential drop across a cell) following a change in the dc polarity. A possible role of a reactionless electrosurface transport of WO₃ in the mechanism of reaction and evolution of electrochemical properties of model electrochemical cells is demonstrated. The obtained data may or may not testify in favor of a hypothesis that presumes a prevailing role of the {WO₄}²⁻ mobility in the In₂(WO₄)₃ structure. Original Russian Text ? A.Ya. Neiman, T.E. Kulikova, 2007, published in Elektrokhimiya, 2007, Vol. 43, No. 6, pp. 714–726. Based on the report delivered at the 8th International Meeting on Fundamental Problems of Solid-State Ionics, Chernogolovka (Russia), 2006.