Dm. Tench et al., ELECTRODEPOSITION OF COPPER-OXIDE FROM THE EUTECTIC SODIUM-POTASSIUM NITRATE MELT, Journal of the Electrochemical Society, 141(2), 1994, pp. 388-392
Copper injected anodically into eutectic Na-K nitrate melt at 300-degr
ees-C is shown to deposit cathodically as cupric oxide (CuO). The diss
olved copper is in the +2 oxidation state and apparently forms a nitra
to complex that facilitates reduction of nitrate to oxide (and nitrite
) at potentials more than a volt positive of that for reduction of the
Na/K nitrate species. From these results and literature studies, cath
odic metal oxide deposition from nitrate melts appears to be a general
phenomenon that could prove to be a practical means of preparing anhy
drous metal oxide films.