Visualization of aquaionic splitting via iron corrosion

Abstract

We report a water decomposition mode called ‘Aquaionic Splitting (AiS)’ by means of iron corrosion in aqueous solution. In this paper, we investigated the phenomenon by controlling the reaction between iron and water. A pseudo-sacrificial protection method with oil paint was employed to select the anode and cathode formation locations that govern iron corrosion. Then, the AiS reaction was visualized by using BTB solution, whose colour corresponds to pH, to produce colour patterning that corresponds to the aquaion distribution. It has become clear that water can be selectively separated into protons and hydroxide ions by corrosion control treatment. In this vein, the diffusion coefficient of protons was estimated by using the colour patterning of BTB solution that accompanies iron corrosion, and aquaion distribution was then computer simulated by solving the diffusion equation.