Oxygen evolution reaction polarization curves

The polarization curves for the oxygen evolution reaction are more complex than those for hydrogen evolution. Usually, several Tafel sections with different slopes are present. At intermediate CD their slope b is very close to 0.12 V, but at low CD it sometimes falls to 0.06 V. At high CD higher slopes are found at potentials above 2.2 V (RHE) new phenomena and processes are possible, which are considered in Section 15.6. 

Figure 4. Polarization curves of carbon corrosion and oxygen evolution reactions based on measured carbon corrosion kinetics for Pt/Vulcan and Pt/Graphitized-Vulcan and oxygen evolution kinetics for Pt/C catalysts. The upper horizontal dotted line denotes a current density equivalent to oxygen crossover through membrane from cathode to anode.

Polarization curves of the oxygen evolution reaction and the corrosion reaction in the cases when Ag is introduced in the solution or in the metal [121]. 

Fig. 10-28. Polarization curves for cell reactions of photoelectrolytic decomposition of water at a photoezcited n-type anode and at a metal cathode solid curve M = cathodic polarization curve of hydrogen evolution at metal cathode solid curve n-SC = anodic polarization curve of oxygen evolution at photoezcited n-type anode (Fermi level versus current curve) dashed curve p-SC = quasi-Fermi level of interfadal holes as a ftmction of anodic reaction current at photoezcited n-type anode (anodic polarization curve r re-sented by interfacial hole level) = electrode potential of two operating electrodes in a photoelectrolytic cell p. sc = inverse overvoltage of generation and transport ofphotoezcited holes in an n-type anode.

Figures 16.8 and 16.9 show only the anodic polarization curves for corrosion cells. The important question is, where do these curves intersect with the polarization curves for likely cathodic reactions, such as hydrogen evolution or oxygen absorption The intersection point defines the corrosion current density icorr and hence the corrosion rate per unit surface area. As an example, let us consider the corrosion of titanium (which passivates at negative Eh) by aqueous acid. In Fig. 16.10, the polarization curves for H2 evolution on Ti and for the Ti/Ti3+ couple intersect in the active region of the Ti anode. To make the intersection occur in the passive region (as in Fig. 16.11), we must either move the H+/H2 polarization curve bodily...

The effect of ultrasonic field on the polarization curves of Cu-Pb, and some brasses has been studied in chloride and sulfate solutions in the presence and absence of the respective metal ions [108]. The main effect of the ultrasound at low current densities is the acceleration of diffusion. The passivation current density in solutions free of the respective metal ions is considerably increased when ultrasound is applied. Stable passivity cannot be attained because of the periodic destruction of the salt film. The hydrogen evolution reaction is accelerated because of the destruction of the solvation shell. The oxygen depolarization reaction is also enhanced due to the increased diffusion. The rate of metal deposition is likewise increased by ultrasound. The steady-state potentials of reactions with anodic control are shifted in the negative direction when ultrasound is applied. 

Figures 14.6 and 14.7 depict the polarization curves of iron in weak HCI solutions, when the cathodic reaction is the hydrogen evolution reaction and when the cathodic process is the reduction of oxygen, respectively. In the former case, both the anodic and the cathodic processes are charge-transfer controlled, represented by the Tafel equation as ...

The standard potentials of these two electrode reactions are significantly lower than that of the oxygen electrode. The transpassive dissolution of chromium therefore can occur at potentials well below those needed for oxygen evolution. As an illustration, Figure 6.36 shows anodic polarization curves for the transpassive... 

The curves represented by Eq. (24) are linearized when plotted semilogarithmically and are called Tafel lines. The constant b represents the slope of the Tafel hne and means the potential difference that causes a current increase of one decade. Tafel lines are important tools when reactions are considered that occur at high overvoltages, since such a linearization allows quantitative considerations. They are often used with lead-acid batteries, since polarization of the secondary reactions hydrogen evolution and oxygen evolution is very high in this system (cf.. Fig. 1.24). 

Oxygen reduction is limited by the slow transport rate. In Fig. 1.24 this limitation is assumed at an equivalent to 2 mA/100 Ah. It is expressed by a horizontal line, which means that the oxygen reduction rate is independent from the potential of the negative electrode. At a very small polarization, which corresponds to a correspondingly low cell voltage, decrease of this reaction is to be expected, due to the reduced oxygen evolution at the positive electrode, as indicated by the broken curve. 

Rates of corrosion can also be measured using an electrochemical technique known as potentiodynamic polarization. The potential of the test metal electrode relative to a reference electrode (commonly the saturated calomel electrode SCE) is varied at a controlled rate using a potentiostat. The resultant current density which flows in the cell via an auxiliary electrode, typically platinum, is recorded as a function of potential. The schematic curve in fig. 2 is typical of data obtained from such a test. These data can provide various parameters in addition to corrosion rate, all of which are suitable for describing corrosion resistance. The corrosion potential F corr is nominally the open circuit or rest potential of the metal in solution. At this potential, the anodic and cathodic processes occurring on the surface are in equilibrium. When the sample is polarized to potentials more positive than Scon the anodic processes, such as metal dissolution, dominate (Anodic Polarization Curve). With polarization to potentials more negative than Scorr the cathodic processes involved in the corrosion reaction such as oxygen reduction and hydrogen evolution dominate (Cathodic Polarization Curve). These separate halves of the total polarization curve may provide information about the rates of anodic and cathodic processes. The current density at any particular potential is a measure of the... 

In analyzing the polarization data, it can be seen that the cathodic reaction on the copper (oxygen reduction) quickly becomes diffusion controlled. However, at potentials below -0.4 V, hydrogen evolution begins to become the dominant reaction, as seen by the Tafel behavior at those potentials. At the higher anodic potentials applied to the steel specimen, the effect of uncompensated ohmic resistance (IRohmk) can be seen as a curving up of the anodic portion of the curve. 

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