Identification of phases in Ag + Pd alloys electrodeposited by the electrochemical ALSV technique

Abstract

The well-established anodic linear sweep voltammetry (ALSV) technique has been used to identify the phases present in electrodeposited thin layers of Ag+Pd alloys. Alloys were deposited both potentiostatically and galvanostatically on glassy carbon and gold rotating-disc electrodes from a chloride-containing electrolyte at elevated temperatures. It is shown that electrodeposited Ag+Pd alloys appear in two different phases (ordered structures) depending on the chemical composition and the amount (thickness) of electrodeposited alloy. It is also found that the temperature of the electrolyte for alloy deposition and/or dissolution has a slight effect on the ALSV peak potentials but has no influence on the phase composition of the alloy. The concentration of chloride ions in the electrolyte for alloy dissolution (characterization) was found to be a limiting factor in successful and complete dissolution of Ag+Pd alloys.