STUDY OF ZINC OXYGEN CORROSION KINETICS IN NEUTRAL SOLUTION UNDER LASER ILLUMINATION

Photoelectrochemical phenomena caused by laser illumination (lambda = 488 nm) of zinc covered with an oxide layer in a naturally aerated 5% sodium chloride (NaCl) solution were investigated. The photopotential- vs-time variation had two peculiar regions: a rapid brit low positive potential jump followed by a slow but rather great shift to some limit ing value. The first region was explained by the generation of charges in the oxide layer. The second region was fostered by the intensifica tion of oxygen reduction.