Heterogenous electron transfer

Cyclic voltammetry is the most widely used technique for acquiring qualitative information about electrochemical reactions. The power of cyclic voltammetry results from its ability to rapidly provide considerable information on the thermodynamics of redox processes, on the kinetics of heterogeneous electron-transfer reactions, and on coupled chemical reactions or adsorption processes. Cyclic voltammetry is often the first experiment performed in an electroanalytical study. In particular, it offers a rapid location of redox potentials of the electroactive species, and convenient evaluation of the effect of media upon the redox process. 

One also obtains analogous findings with trace-crossing effects for the electropolymerization of thiophene and pyrrole. This cannot be explained by a simple linear reaction sequence, as presented in Scheme I, because it indicates competing homogeneous and heterogeneous electron transfer processes. Measurements carried out in a diluted solution of JV-phenylcarbazole provide a more accurate insight into the reaction mechanism (Fig. 2). 

Such reduction In overpotentlal Is the largest observed for a bare glassy carbon electrode. The presence of surface qulnones may be Indicative of activation but does not appear to mediate the heterogeneous electron transfer. XFS results support the presence of qulnones as a minor constituent on the surface. 

Dynamic Aspects of Heterogeneous Electron-Transfer Reactions at Liquid-Liquid Interfaces... 

Fig. 5. Plot of apparent electron self exchange rate constants kf P, derived from polymer De values for films containing the indicated metals, mixed valent states, and ligands, all in acetonitrile, using Equation 2, vs. literature heterogeneous electron transfer rate constants k° for the corresponding monomers in nitrile solvents. See Ref. 6 for details. (Reproduced from Ref. 6. Copyright 1987 American Chemical Society.)...

As we have mentioned before, acoustic streaming, cavitation and other effects derived from them, microjetting and shock waves take also relevance when the ultrasound field interacts with solid walls. On the other hand, an electrochemical process is a heterogeneous electron transfer which takes place in the interphase electrode-solution, it means, in a very located zone of the electrochemical system. Therefore, a carefully and comprehensive read reveals that all these phenomena can provide opposite effects in an electrochemical process. For example, shock waves can avoid the passivation of the electrode or damage the electrode surface depending on the electrode process and/or strength of the electrode materials [29]. 

Heterogeneous Processes at a Platinum Electrode. The series of organometals I-IV are also readily oxidized electrochemical ly (9). Thus we can apply the same steric probe to the corresponding anodic process for which the analogous mechanism for heterogeneous electron transfer at an electrode [E] is represented by an electrochemical EC sequence shown in Scheme II. 

Figure 10. Variation in the experimental rate constant (log kj for heterogeneous electron transfer as a function of the applied potential.

Figure 11. Free energy relationship for the intrinsic rate constant (log kt) for heterogeneous electron transfer.

Interfacial electron transfer is the critical process occurring in all electrochemical cells in which molecular species are oxidized or reduced. While transfer of an electron between an electrode and a solvated molecule or ion is conceptually a simple reaction, rates of heterogeneous electron transfer processes depend on a multitude of factors and can vary over many orders of magnitude. Since control of interfacial electron transfer rates is usually essential for successful operation of electrochemical devices, understanding the kinetics of these reactions has been and remains a challenging and technologically important goal. 

The EC mechanism (Scheme 2.1) associates an electrode electron transfer with a first-order (or pseudo-first-order) follow-up homogeneous reaction. It is one of the simplest reaction schemes where a heterogeneous electron transfer is coupled with a reaction that takes place in the adjacent solution. This is the reason that it is worth discussing in some detail as a prelude to more complicated mechanisms involving more steps and/or reactions with higher reaction orders. As before, the cyclic voltammetric response to this reaction scheme will be taken as an example of the way it can be characterized qualitatively and quantitatively. 

The preceding approach applies to all linear systems that is, those involving mechanisms in which only first-order or pseudo-first-order homogeneous reactions are coupled with the heterogeneous electron transfer steps. As seen, for example, in Section 2.2.5, it also applies to higher-order systems, involving second-order reactions, when they obey pure kinetic conditions (i.e., when the kinetic dimensionless parameters are large). If this is not the case, nonlinear partial derivative equations of the type... 

Figure 1 Schematic representation of an heterogeneous electron transfer taking place through an outer-sphere mechanism at a negatively charged electrode...

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