Reaction pathways anodic dissolution

FIGURE 5.63. Reaction pathways during anodic dissolution in HF solution accounting for different quantum efficiencies. (Reprinted from Matsumura and Morrison. 1983, with permission from Elsevier Science.)... 

The general concept of the anodic dissolution process and reaction pathway was first explored with group-IV semiconductors (i.e. silicon and germanium) (1-3). 

The late transition and main group metals follow the anodic oxidation pathway analogous to that in aqueous solutions. The minimal oxidation potentials in these cases can in fact be very low (up to max. 3.0 V), whUe higher ones are readily applied to accelerate the process. The anodic reaction consists of dissolution of metal ions in the form of anionic halide complexes, which are later transformed into insoluble alkoxides by reaction with alkoxide anions generated at the cathode, for example (Lehmkuhl, 1975) ... 

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