INVESTIGATION ON ELECTRO-REDUCTION BEHAVI OR OF COPPER ANODIC PRODUCTS IN CONCENTRATED NAOH SOLUTIONS - I - ELECTRO-REDUCTION OF CU(I) PRODUCTS

Specific potential scan programs have been used to investigate the ele ctro-reduction behaviour of cuprous oxides anodically formed on copper electrodes in concentrated NaOH solutions. The obtained voltammograms exhibit 3 cathodic current peaks. The peak charges are closely relate d to anodic polarization potential, polarization time and potential sc an rate. These cathodic peaks have been semi-quantitatively contrasted with XRD and XPS spectra to identify anodic products reduced under ea ch cathodic peak. A complex model including adsorption-crystallization and dissolution-precipitation mechanisms for the formation of cuprous oxide is proposed.