Ruthenium dioxide: a new electrode material. I. Behaviour in acid solutions of inert electrolytes

Abstract

The electrochemical behaviour of RuO2 film electrodes, prepared by the thermal decomposition of Ru Cl3 on metallic supports has been investigated in solutions of inert electrolytes. Steady-state pot entiostatic i/E curves, cyclic voltammetry and charging curves are presented. The procedure for the preparation of electrodes is described. RuO2 film electrodes exhibit oxygen overvoltages much lower than, and hydrogen overvoltages almost equal to, those on Pt electrodes. Results of measurements in the range of potential between oxygen and hydrogen evolution suggest that modifications arise which, while occurring within the whole film and not only at the surface, involve only a small fraction of the metal atoms. An explanation of this behaviour is advanced in terms of non-stoichiometry of the oxide layer. © 1974 Chapman and Hall Ltd.