Inhibition of electrode processes

The inhibition of electrode processes as a result of the adsorption of electroinactive surfactants has been studied in detail at catalytically inactive mercury electrodes. In contrast to solid metal electrodes where knowledge of the structure of the electrical double layer is small, it is often possible to determine whether the effect of adsorption on the electrode process at mercury electrodes is solely due to electrostatics (a change in potential 02)... 

New concepts in understanding of the inhibition processes of the electrode reactions. The development of new method to study inhibition of electrode processes. Determination of steric effects in inhibited electrode reactions. 

So far, several examples have been given of the inhibition of electrocatalytic processes. This retardation is a result of occupation of the catalyti-cally more active sites by electroinactive components of the electrolyte, preventing interaction of the electroactive substances with these sites. The electrode process can also be inhibited by the formation of oxide layers on the surface and by the adsorption of less active intermediates and also of the products of the electrode process. 

From the slope of the polarization curve and its variation with time (exposure time of the iron electrode), information on the kind of inhibition can be gained. An inhibition of anodic processes decreases the ia versus E current density and increases the corrosion potential correspondingly, an increase in cathodic inhibition causes a decrease in the i. and lowers the corrosion potential. 

If the corrosion products are the result of the interaction between the anodic products and the environment and have insulating properties, they tend to inhibit the electrode processes, thereby hindering the effects of galvanic coupling. This is the case in the formation of basic zinc carbonate in drinking water. If the corrosion problem was the rate of penetration into the substrate, the coating would be as safe as in the previous case but of longer duration. If the corrosion problem... 

These are the roles of additives for corrosion inhibition and the modification of electrodeposits. For electrode reactions where the overall sequence includes chemical steps, however, the role of the adsorbate layer may be quite different. Rather it may be to create an environment which is more favourable than the bulk solution for a particular reaction. For example, the proton availability may be different it is not unusual for an adsorbate layer to be relatively aprotic compared with an aqueous electrolyte and such modifications of electrode processes have been used in the following. 

It must be remembered that a general reaction cannot exclude the possibility of autocatalysis or inhibition by products, in which case y or a or 0. If, for example B is replaced with an electron, we are immediately in the realm of electrode processes, because only in this area can we speak meaningfully on reactions with electrons. The corresponding rate equation for the reaction... 

Participation in the electrode reactions The electrode reactions of corrosion involve the formation of adsorbed intermediate species with surface metal atoms, e.g. adsorbed hydrogen atoms in the hydrogen evolution reaction adsorbed (FeOH) in the anodic dissolution of iron . The presence of adsorbed inhibitors will interfere with the formation of these adsorbed intermediates, but the electrode processes may then proceed by alternative paths through intermediates containing the inhibitor. In these processes the inhibitor species act in a catalytic manner and remain unchanged. Such participation by the inhibitor is generally characterised by a change in the Tafel slope observed for the process. Studies of the anodic dissolution of iron in the presence of some inhibitors, e.g. halide ions , aniline and its derivatives , the benzoate ion and the furoate ion , have indicated that the adsorbed inhibitor I participates in the reaction, probably in the form of a complex of the type (Fe-/), or (Fe-OH-/), . The dissolution reaction proceeds less readily via the adsorbed inhibitor complexes than via (Fe-OH),js, and so anodic dissolution is inhibited and an increase in Tafel slope is observed for the reaction. 

Reaction overpotential. Both overpotentials mentioned above are normally of higher importance than the reaction overpotential. It may happen sometimes, however, that other phenomena, which occur in the electrolyte or during electrode processes, such as adsorption and desorption, are the speed-limiting factors. Crystallization overpotential. This exists as a result of the inhibited intercalation of metal ions into their lattice. This process is of fundamental importance when secondary batteries are charged, especially during metal deposition on the negative side. 

Experience shows that in the deposition of a number of metals (mercury, silver, lead, cadmium, and others), the rate of the initial reaction is high, and the associated polarization is low (not over 20 mV). For other metals (particularly of the iron group), high values of polarization are found. The strong inhibition of cathodic metal deposition that is found in the presence of a number of organic substances (and which was described in Section 14.3) is also observed at mercury electrodes (i.e., it can be also associated with the initial step of the process). 

In general, the physical state of the electrodes used in electrochemical processes is the solid state (monolithic or particulate). The material of which the electrode is composed may actually participate in the electrochemical reactions, being consumed by or deposited from the solution, or it may be inert and merely provide an interface at which the reactions may occur. There are three properties which all types of electrodes must possess if the power requirements of the process are to be minimized (i) the electrodes should be able to conduct electricity well, i.e., they should be made of good conductors (ii) the overpotentials at the electrodes should be low and (iii) the electrodes should not become passivated, by which it is meant that they should not react to form on their surfaces any compound that inhibits the desired electrochemical reaction. Some additional desirable requirements for a satisfactory performance of the cell are that the electrodes should be amenable to being manufactured or prepared easily that they should be resistant to corrosion by the elements within the cell that they should be mechanically strong and that they should be of low cost. Electrodes are usually mounted vertically, and in some cases horizontally only in some rare special cases are they mounted in an inclined manner. 

For example, the investigations of the current-generating mechanism for the polyaniline (PANI) electrode have shown that at least within the main range of potential AEn the "capacitor" model of ion electrosorption/ desorption in well conducting emeraldine salt phase is more preferable. Nevertheless, the possibilities of redox processes at the limits and beyond this range of potentials AEn should be taken into account. At the same time, these processes can lead to the fast formation of thin insulation passive layers of new poorly conducting phases (leucoemeraldine salt, leucoemeraldine base, etc.) near the current collector (Figure 7). The formation of such phases even in small amounts rapidly inhibits and discontinues the electrochemical process. 

Corrosion is a mixed-electrode process in which parts of the surface act as cathodes, reducing oxygen to water, and other parts act as anodes, with metal dissolution the main reaction. As is well known, iron and ferrous alloys do not dissolve readily even though thermodynamically they would be expected to, The reason is that in the range of mixed potentials normally encountered, iron in neutral or slightly acidic or basic solutions passivates, that is it forms a layer of oxide or oxyhydroxide that inhibits further corrosion. 

The electrokinetic process will be limited by the solnbUity of the contaminant and the desorption from the clay matrix that is contaminated. Heterogeneities or anomalies in the soil wiU rednce removal efficiencies. Extreme pHs at the electrodes and the may inhibit the system s effectiveness. Electrokinetic remediation is most efficient when the pore water has low salinity. The process requires sufficient pore water to transmit the electrical charge. Contaminant and noncontaminant concentrations effect the efficiency of the process. 

The inhibiting influence of cyclodextrins on the Cd(II)/Cd(Hg) electrode processes was studied [56]. It was found that the inhibition coefficient increases in the series a-cyclodextrin < y-cyclodextrin <... 

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