Journal of Applied Electrochemistry, Vol.24, No.4, 310-315, 1994
Kinetics and Mechanism of the Oxygen Evolution Reaction at Oxide-Coated Co-Ni Amorphous Alloy Electrodes
Oxygen evolution reaction (o.e.r.) kinetics in NaOH solutions have been studied on both fresh and oxide covered Co50Ni25Si15B10 amorphous alloy (G-16) electrodes. Steady state polarization curves obtained in different aqueous xM NaOH (0.1 less-than-or-equal-to x less-than-or-equal-to 4) in the 30-80-degrees-C range fulfill Tafel relationships at low overpotentials; the Tafel slope is close to 2.3(RT/F) V dec-1 for both G-16 and oxide coated G-16 electrodes. At high overpotentials, ohmic relationships with slopes becoming increasingly steep, regardless of the NaOH concentration, are observed. In the Tafel region, the reaction order with respect to OH- is near 2. The apparent current density at constant potential, for oxide coated G-16 electrodes, is greater than that for uncoated G-16. The high catalytic activity of the oxide coated G-16 for the o.e.r. is attributed to its spinel-type structure. The kinetics of the o.e.r. at low overpotentials is explained through a mechanism involving a first electron transfer step followed by a rate-determining chemical step.
Keywords:ALKALINE WATER ELECTROLYSIS;HYDROGEN EVOLUTION;COBALT ELECTRODES;THIN-FILMS;ELECTROCATALYSIS;NICO2O4;SURFACE;METALS;LAYERS;CO3O4