Mass Transfer and Current‐Potential Relation in Pulse Electrolysis

Abstract

Ageneralized theory is presented for pulse electrolysis with rectangular currentpulses, periodical pulse reverse, anddouble rectangular pulses with relaxations. Itis shown that very high instantaneous mass transfer rates correspondingto acurrent density of 100–1000 A/cm2 can be attained byshort current pulses at high pulse frequencies. Numerical results fortheconcentration fluctuations and potential responses have also been calculated forthe deposition/dissolution of copper on arotating disk electrode in acidcopper sulfate solution. The results indicate that the current pulsescan profoundly changethe current-potential relationships and thus the current distributionand the morphology of electrodeposits on the electrodesurface. ©1983 The Electrochemical Society, Inc.