MASS-TRANSFER TO A GAS-GENERATING ELECTRODE IN A ZERO-GRAVITY ENVIRONMENT

Formation of convection in electrochemical systems and mass transfer t o a gas-generating electrode are studied under conditions of weightles sness. The electric field of electrolysis is shown to affect strongly the motion of evolving bubbles. A criterion is proposed for evaluating electrostatic forces that affect the evolution of gas bubbles. At cur rent densities exceeding 1 A cm(-2), the electrostatic forces are show n to prevail over the Archimedean force, at a normal gravitation as we ll. Good agreement between the experimental and theoretically calculat ed values of the diffusion layer thickness testifies in favor of the m echanisms considered.