Cathodic reduction of superconducting oxocuprates YBa2Cu3O7-x at high current densities

The cathodic reduction of YBa2Cu3O7 in aqueous electrolytes at ambient temp erature turns out to be strongly dependent upon current density with respec t to the reaction mechanism. At low current density, topotactic electron/pr oton transfer is the dominant process, while at higher current densities, t wo competing reactions appear. i.e. the topotactic conversion and an irreve rsible reaction leading to products amorphous in terms of X-ray diffraction .