Potential of a copper-containing redox ionite

It was demonstrated that the potential of a copper-containing redox ionite in solution is characterized by a more negative potential in comparison wit h massive copper. In 0.01-1.0 M copper sulfate + 0.05 M H2SO4 (buffer) solu tions, the deviation is as high as 10-75 mV. Thermodynamic calculations des cribe this result on the basis of the properties of superdisperse copper. I n concentrated solutions, where dispersed and massive copper have practical ly the same potentials, the potential of the redox ionite shows a small but quite stable deviation from that of massive copper (up to 10 mV). It was d emonstrated that a decrease in the concentration of copper in solution and a uniform distribution of copper over the pores of the redox ionite results in a substantial shift of the potential to negative values (up to 75 mV). It was found that the ionite matrix stabilizes the state of superdispersion of copper because of a decrease in the probability of spontaneous recrysta llization and the formation of a uniform spatial distribution of microcryst als.