Adsorption of thiourea on monocrystalline silver electrodes in neutral solution

Abstract

Impedance spectroscopy and radiometric method have been used in the study of thiourea (TU) adsorption on monocrystalline silver electrodes of basal indices: (1 1 1), (1 0 0) and (1 1 0) in neutral solution. The dependence of the surface concentration of TU on the electrode potential and on the bulk concentration was determined for each studied surface. From radiometric measurements it follows that adsorption of TU on silver electrodes takes place in the entire range of applied potentials. The process of adsorption is practically reversible with respect to the electrode potential (in the range of the double layer) and the bulk concentration of TU. Differential capacity of silver electrodes in 0.01 M NaClO 4 solution containing TU of concentrations from 10 −6 to 5 × 10 −4 M has been measured. The isotherms of TU adsorption, determined from the capacitance and radiometric measurements have been compared and the Gibbs energy of adsorption was calculated. The values of limiting surface concentration of adsorbed TU as well as the Gibbs energy of adsorption depend on the plane of Ag electrode and follow the sequence: Ag(1 1 1) > Ag(1 0 0) > Ag(1 1 0) which is in agreement with the surface density of Ag atoms.