Theory of the chronoamperometric transient for electrochemical nucleation with diffusion-controlled growth

The general theory of the chronoamperometric transient for the case of elec trochemical nucleation with diffusion-controlled growth has been treated by Scharifker and Mostany [J. Electroanal. Chem. 177 (1984) 13] and Sluyters- Rehbach et al. [J. Electroanal. Chem. 236 (1987) 1]. These models, based on the concept of planar diffusion zones and the use of Avrami's theorem to a ccount for overlap, lead to conflicting results. This paper reports a new g eneral equation for the current transient which is based on elements of bot h the existing theories. The theoretical predictions of this equation and t heir relevance for the analysis of experimental transients are discussed an d compared with experimental observations. (C) 1999 Elsevier Science S.A. A ll rights reserved.