New insight into the potential oscillations during iodate reduction in alkaline solution

Potential oscillations during the reduction of iodate ions in alkaline solution under galvanostatic conditions have been reinvestigated without adding iodide. The oscillations can take place only when the applied current is larger than the limiting current, and the oscillation amplitudes are within the plateau region of the limiting current. The bistability, i.e., iodate reduction and hydrogen evolution at different potentials, coupled with convection feedback, induced by hydrogen evolution, accounts for the oscillations. The mechanism was supported by the experimental results of current sweep and cyclic voltammetry. Our study shows that physical processes, i.e., alternately predominant mass transfer of the iodate by diffusion and by convection, play an important role in the oscillations.