POTENTIAL DEPENDENCE OF THE OPTICAL-PROPERTIES OF THE COPPER-VERTICAL-BAR-AQUEOUS BORAX INTERFACE

The potential dependence of the optical properties of a copper surface at potentials where CuO and Cu2O are reduced has been studied by in s itu ellipsometry in 0.1 M borax. It is shown that a thin layer of a co pper(I) oxide remains on the surface even after extensive reduction. I t is proposed that these oxide films play an important role in the kin etics of oxygen and hydrogen peroxide reduction.