RADIOMETRY IN ELECTROCHEMISTRY - COMPARISON OF METHODS USED FOR DETERMINATION OF SURFACE CONCENTRATION AND ELECTROCHEMICAL KINETICS ON SOLID ELECTRODES

The paper reviews two principal variants of the radiometric method of adsorption investigation on solid electrodes. One variant is based upo n the thin electrode arrangement that allows beta- particles to reach radiation detector placed directly under the metal layer. The other op erates on the thin gap principle according to which particles emitted by the labeled adsorbate penetrate through a very thin solution layer before being detected by the radiation detector, located on the opposi te side of the gap. Both methods can be used to determine quantitative ly the adsorption as a function of potential, temperature, solution co ncentration and other variables. The thin electrode method is suitable for measuring adsorption on rough, usually electroplated, surfaces wh ile the thin gap method is capable of providing information from both rough and smooth surfaces, monocrystalline in particular. Several exam ple of adsorption data obtained by using both methods are given in the paper. Discussed are advantages and drawbacks of both methods and the ir complementary character.