The mechanism of oxidation of copper in alkaline solutions

M.R. GENNERO DE CHIALVO; S.L. MARCHIANO; A.J. ARVIA

JOURNAL OF APPLIED ELECTROCHEMISTRY

SPRINGER

Lugar: Berlin; Año: 1984 vol. 14 p. 165 - 175

0021-891X

The formation of Cu2O by the oxidation of Cu in alkaline solutions under various controlled potential conditions has been studied by potentiodynamic methods, the rotating ring disc technique and by employing colloidal Cu(OH)2 electrodes supported on vitreous carbon. The kinetics of the electrochemical reactions, both anodic and cathodic, are interpreted in terms of a complex reaction mechanism involving various intermediates participating in the phase oxide formation, (e.g. adsorbed OH, soluble Cu(I) and metal sites of different activity). Besides the electrochemical reactions the model includes various ageing and surface restructuring processes. The growth mechanism is envisaged to depend on the conditions of oxidation.