ELECTROCHEMICAL AND SCANNING FORCE MICROSCOPY CHARACTERIZATION OF FRACTAL PALLADIUM SURFACES RESULTING FROM THE ELECTROREDUCTION OF PALLADIUM OXIDE LAYERS

Pd oxide layers were grown by applying to smooth Pd electrodes a poten tial reversal technique (PRT) in 1 M H2SO4 at 25 degrees C. The electr oreduction of the Pd oxide layer was made either voltammetrically or p otentiostatically, yielding a Pd overlayer with a large increase in su rface area. The effective range of PRT conditions for increasing the P d surface area was established. The increase in surface area of treate d Pd was voltammetrically determined. The electrochemical behavior of treated Pd electrodes in acid revealed an enhancement of the H atom su rface electroadsorption processes. This behavior is consistent with th e fractal characteristics of the treated Pd electrode surface, as demo nstrated by the analysis of scanning force microscopy imaging data.