Initial stages of anodic oxidation of silver in sodium hydroxide solution studied by potential sweep voltammetry and ellipsometry

Abstract

The first stages of the oxidation of polycrystalline silver electrodes in NaOH solutions were studied by potential sweep voltammetry and ellipsometry. Formation of bulk Ag2O was found to be preceded by dissolution of silver species and deposition of a surface oxide. The equilibrium oxide coverage depended on the electrode potential and occurred within a few seconds. Surface oxide formation probably took place via a process of random electro-deposition. No ageing effect was observed in the chemisorbed layer.