Potentiodynamic examination of electrode kinetics for electroactive adsorbed species: applications to the reduction of noble metal surface oxides

Abstract

The relation between reaction rate and potential (or time) for electrochemical surface processes occurring under potentiodynamic control (linear potential-time programme) has been investigated with particular reference to the behaviour of thin surface oxide films on noble metals. The kinetics of processes involving adsorbed electroactive species are treated for several model cases; the rate equations are developed for mechanisms involving various reaction orders or for processes involving adsorbed reactant interactions and surface heterogeneity effects. By examination of the dependence of the reaction rate (current) with time and the effect of potential scan rate,v, on the maximum reaction velocity and the potential at which it occurs, the models may be distinguished. In this manner, the inter­dependence ofvand the reaction velocity constantskaandkcfor the anodic oxidation and the cathodic reduction processes respectively, can be quantitatively established. The relation between quasi-equilibrium situations where the reverse reaction is significant and irreversible situations where it is not can be demonstrated. Heterogeneity terms introduced into the kinetic relations express deviations from Langmuir adsorption behaviour and may be an intrinsic property of the substrate surface or a property of the adsorbed reactant (induced heterogeneity). Applications of the treatment are made to reduction of surface oxide species at the noble metals and the significance of hysteresis and time effects in the processes of electrochemical formation and reduction of surface oxide at platinum, rhodium, iridium and palladium is investigated.