PHOTOELECTROCHEMICAL CURRENTS AND NOISES ON A LITHIUM ELECTRODE

The spectra of a photoelectrochemical current on a lithium electrode i n gamma-butyrolactone, propylene carbonate, dimethylsulfoxide solution with LICIO(4) and LiBF4 were investigated. The threshold energy of el ectron photoemission E(th) from lithium to the oxide film were compare d; we obtained, as a result, that E(th) = 1.3-1.4 eV for the different electrolytes. The value of the intensity of the electric field in the oxide film under stationary conditions was 1 x 10(7)-3 x 10(7) V/m. I t was found that, under a strong illumination of electrode by sunlight radiation, the value of the photo-electromotive force and the electro chemical noise increases. By the analysis of the kinetics of this phot oeffect and noise we concluded that the migration of photogenerated ca rriers through the oxide film is a limiting stage of its transfer proc ess. The velocity constant of this reaction was K-s = 1 X 1022 x 10(2) s(-1).