Electrochemical behaviour of Cu-Zr and Cu-Ti glassy alloys

Hydrogen evolution is a fundamental reaction for better understanding of el ectrochemical activity of electrode materials. Amorphous Cu-Zr and Cu-Ti ri bbons were produced by melt spinning methods and were characterized by X-ra y diffraction, scanning electron microscopy and differential scanning calor imetry. The electrocatalytic efficiency was evaluated on the basis of elect rochemical data obtained from cathodic polarization curves carried out ill both acid and basic medium at 25 degreesC. The surfaces of amorphous materi als were prepared, before electrochemical measurements, by immersion in HF solutions. The results were compared to those obtained on polycrystalline c opper and on untreated ribbons. The HF treatment yielded a porous copper st ructure with a higher roughness factor which had improved electrocatalytic activity compared with that of polycrystalline copper electrode. (C) 2001 E lsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.