The analysis of electrode impedances complicated by the presence of a constant phase element

Abstract

The electrical double-layer at a solid electrode does not in general behave as a pure capacitance but rather as an impedance displaying a frequency-independent phase angle different from 90°. Ways are indicated how to analyse the interfacial impedance if such a complication arises in the presence of a faradaic process, both on the supposition that the double-layer behaviour is due to surface inhomogeneity and on the supposition that it is a double-layer property per se.

As examples, the equations derived are successfully applied to a totally irreversible and an ac quasi-reversible electrode process at a gold electrode.