ANODIC DISSOLUTION OF SILVER AND FORMATION OF AG2O IN HYDROXIDE SOLUTIONS USING SINGLE CRYSTAL ELECTRODES A FARADAIC IMPEDANCE STUDY

Silver single crystal electrodes polarised anodically in strong NaOH solutions have been examined by the faradaic impedance method. In spite of some surface roughness it has been shown that dissolution of the electrode occurs as Ag(OH)-2 at a rate too fast to measure. Dissolution precedes phase formation on the electrode which occurs firstly as a monolayer of Ag2O which, after a narrow potential range of stability, slowly thickens to form a dense multilayer. Dissolution continues to a reduced extent through the Ag2O film. There is no effect on the rate of a redox process during film formation even into the multilayer region and it must be that the film is an excellent electronic conductor. There are considerable surface roughness and area changes during dissolution and resulting from reduction of Ag2O layers. © 1969.