ELECTRON-SPECTROSCOPY CHARACTERIZATION OF AN ACTIVATED RUTHENIUM ELECTRODE

X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy and Auger electron spectroscopy were used for the characterization of an electrodeposited ruthenium electro de (unactivated) and an electrode subjected to electrochemical activat ion. The characterization was performed at room temperature and after 30 min of annealing at 400, 520 and 640 K. It was found that, at room temperature, both electrodes consist of a mixture of ruthenium oxides, hydroxides and adsorbed water molecules. In addition, carbon, sulphur and chlorine were identified as impurities. The most prominent differ ence between the samples is a significantly higher hydroxyl content in the case of the activated electrode. A model involving hydroxyl group s in the Ru(III)-Ru(IV) redox process is proposed.