ELECTROCAPILLARY PHENOMENA ON SOLID GOLD IN MOLTEN ALKALI-HALIDES

The excessive surface free energy of solid gold in molten alkali chlor ides, bromides, and iodides is measured by meniscus weight technique a s a function of temperature and electric potential. The peculiarities of this interface are established and shown to be due to the partial c harge transfer to the electrode from the anions adsorbed on a positive ly charged surface. This phenomenon was enhanced when the tension in t he electrical double layer was increased and the temperature and bondi ng energy of the species in a salt melt was decreased. Adsorption inte raction between the species resulted in the formation of anionic compl ex groups on the interface causing the recharge of the electrode surfa ce and the increase in the interface resistance.