Potential -pH relationships of some metal-metal oxide electrodes

Abstract

The suitability of metal-metal oxide electrodes and the drawbacks of established pII measuring electrodes are reviewed. A well-established metal-metal oxide system was chosen for initial examination and various experimental techniques of evaluation were developed. This work was extended to include a brief investigation of certain other systems, bismuth, tungsten, platinum, rhodium. and gold, Finally, the viability of an electrode prepared by the electrodeposition of rhodium was established and detailed studies made. Further experiments were designed to determine the chemical and physical nature of the electrode surface, as well as the, reactions responsible for some of the deviations from the theorctical pH response. The techniques employed for this purpose included Energy Dispersive Analysis, Stereoscan Electron Microscopy, X-ray Photoelectron Spectroscopy as well as various Electrochemical methods.