Cathode name origin

Recently it was demonstrated that a platinum black-PTFE electrode, originally designed for a fuel cell, is excellent for the chlorination of double bonds and, depending on the other electrolysis conditions, it was possible to isolate the dichlorocompound or the chlorohydrin (Danger and Yurchak, 1970). Moreover, if a chlorine cathode is used, the overall process occurs with a net output of energy, i.e. the cell may do external work and the procedure has been named electrogenerative chlorination . 

Tafel s original work in 1905 was concerned with organic reactions and H2 evolution at electrodes, and Eq. (1) was written as an empirical representation of the behavior he first observed. A particular value o b = RT/2F has come to be associated specifically with Tafel s name for the behavior of the cathodic H2 evolution reaction (h.e.r.) when under kinetic control by the recombination of two (adsorbed) H atoms following their discharge from or H2O in a prior step. Such kinetic behavior of the h.e.r. is observed under certain conditions at active Pt electrodes and in anodic CI2 evolution at Pt. (We note here, in parentheses, that an alternative origin for a Tafel slope of RT/2F for the h.e.r. at Pt has been discussed by Breiter and by Schuldiner in terms of a quasiequilibrium diffusion potential for H2 diffusing away from a very active Pt electrode at which H2 supersaturation arises). 

On the cathode, the obtained shapes are similar to those calculated by Prentice [ 90]. For a small Wagner number a "shoulder is formed in an area away from the peak. The origin of this phenomenon, namely the combined effect of curvature and distance on the current density, is well described by Prentice [ 8 ]. 

In 1934 in Holland, VonWolzogen Kuhr and Van der Vlugt provided significant evidence that anaerobic corrosion was caused by the activity of SRB. The two scientists suggested a theory that was named the cathodic depolarisation theory or classical theory . From that time on, noodifications to which we collectively refer as alternative theories have bem made to this original theory. 

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