EFFECT OF ETHYLENEDIAMINETETRAACETIC ACID (ROWLANDS EFFECT) ON ELECTROCHEMICAL-BEHAVIOR OF TRANSITION-METALS AND ELECTROCATALYSIS OF HYDROGEN EVOLUTION REACTION - ROWLANDS EFFECT ON NOBLE-METALS

Rowland's effect, which is due to a surface treatment in the presence of ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid (EDTA), is studied by cyclic voltam metry on Pt, Pd, Ru, Rh, Ir, Au, and Re electrodes. In general, the tr eatment causes the destruction and removal of oxides from the surface of metallic substrates resulting in the subsequent increase in the wor king surface area and its depassivation. Rowland's effect is of great importance for electrocatalysis of hydrogen evolution and oxygen reduc tion as well as for surface pretreatment of substrates and catalytic c oatings (Raney nickel, composite Raney alloys, and other catalysts) le ading to an enhanced contact between the substrate and the catalytic c oating.