The adsorption of hydroxide ions on metals

Abstract

A short review of the available data on hydroxide ion adsorption on gold, platinum and copper in alkaline electrolytes shows that these data are scarce owing to the absence of in situ surface techniques sufficiently sensitive to hydroxide adsorbate on metals. A new contact electroresistance (CER) method for investigation in situ of metal surfaces in electrolytes and their dependencies upon the potential and electrolyte composition is briefly discussed. The CER method was shown to be highly sensitive to adsorption of electrolyte species which negatively charge the interface, i.e. to anion adsorption, in particular, to hydroxide ion adsorption. The presented CER data on hydroxide ion adsorption on gold, platinum and copper do not contradict the known data and, as a rule, have a more detailed character. Results on hydroxide ion adsorption on silver, iron and tungsten electrodes are also reported. Finally, the CER method is assumed to serve as a useful tool for investigation of hydroxide ion adsorption on any metal or alloy.