Spatial-temporal resolution of surface metallic oxides on electrochemical oscillators

Abstract

The formation of surface metal oxides is a process frequently observed in several electrochemical oscillators. In general, the oxygenated species participate in the feedback loops, being a major contributor for the birth of oscillatory behavior. The combination of the electrocatalysis of oxide formation and the spatiotemporal resolution of the self-organized structure in the solid-liquid interface can provide important information in the development of methodologies to control the dynamics of the system. This project aims to establish this correlation between the reaction mechanism and the formation of self-organized patterns by the implementation of the ellipsometry technique in the extraction of surface images of the spatially distributed oxides. The technique will be coupled to the electrochemical cell in order to obtain in situ measurements and compared with the electric variables as potential and current. Emphasis will be given in the study of the alternating electrodeposition process of nanostructured copper multilayers in oscillatory regime. (AU)