INFLUENCE OF PERFLUORINATED SURFACTANTS ON THE ELECTROCHEMICAL-BEHAVIOR OF A LEAD ELECTRODE IN SULFURIC-ACID-SOLUTION

The influence of various types of perfluorinated surfactants and their analogous hydrocarbon chain surfactants on the electrochemical a beha viour of a lead electrode in sulfuric acid is studied by linear sweep voltammetry and cyclic voltammetry. The hydrogen evolution reaction is affected mainly by the type of the hydrophobic chain of the added sur factant (perfluorinated or hydrogenated). Nevertheless, these surfacta nts exert little expander action on the negative electrode, or even sh ow an adverse effect on the discharge capacity of the lead electrode. A possible explanation is given in terms of the adsorption properties of different surfactants on the electrode surface during charge and di scharge. (C) 1998 Elsevier Science S.A.