MICROFLUX DETECTION AT THE SOLID-LIQUID INTERFACE WITH AN INTERFEROMETRIC MICROSCOPE

Mass transfers in solution from or to an electrode surface occur at a micronic scale in many processes such as corrosion, electroless platin g or electrocrystallization. Direct knowledge of local information is important for a better understanding of these processes. In this paper , we propose the use of an interferometric microscope to measure at a micronic scale concentration gradients which are directly related to a 3D mass transfer. After validation the technique with the Fe2+/Fe3+ e lectrochemical system, we have detected the local concentration gradie nt of the counter-ions exchanged between a ruthenium oxide film and it s surrounding electrolyte with a spatial resolution of 5 micrometres. These preliminary results allow us to conclude that this method can be very fruitful for local mass transfer studies. Copyright (C) 1997 Els evier Science Ltd.