Numerical Calculation of Transient Current Density Distribution along Vertical Plane Electrode in CuSO4 – H2SO4 Electrolyte Solution

Abstract

The current density distribution on an electrode surface is numerically calculated along the vertical direction during copper electrolysis in stagnant unsupported or aqueous electrolyte solution. The Butler–Volmer equation is taken into account for current density distribution on the electrode surface. The development mechanism of the vertically nonuniform current density distribution associated with natural convection is focused on. The dependence on the applied current density is examined. The present numerical calculation demonstrates that it is closely coupled with the mass transfer associated with natural convection. The local current densities on the cathode surface were also measured with the miniature probe method. Calculated results are compared to the measured values in a electrolyte solution acidified with an excess amount of . They are slightly larger than the measured data near the lower edge of the vertical cathode in an unsupported electrolyte, while the numerical prediction of current–potential curve agrees fairly well with the measurement in an acidified solution.