PHOTOELECTROCHEMICAL PHENOMENA AT THE INTERFACE CU/CU(II), GLYCINE, ALPHA-ALANINE OR BETA-ALANINE

The analysis of photopotentials and photocurrents induced by laser beam perturbation of the interface Cu/solution of Cu(II)-glycine, alpha- or beta-alanine complexes, has shown that phase layers containing Cu2O display the properties of p-type semiconductors, except for the beta-alanine system which displays n-type conductivity. In accordance with results of the analysis of thermodynamic and kinetic stability of Cu2O layers the highest level of photoresponse is observed in the beta-alanine system. Inversion of the photocurrent sign has been registered in the latter system at a certain cathodic overvoltage, the value of which depends on both the pH of solution and the laser emission intensity.