Journal of Electroanalytical Chemistry, Vol.532, No.1-2, 151-156, 2002
XPS studies of the chemical and electrochemical behavior of copper in anhydrous hydrogen fluoride
The reactivity of copper toward liquid anhydrous hydrofluoric acid (AHF) has been examined using ex situ X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS). Exposure of either oxide-free or air-oxidized Cu surfaces to AHF yielded XPS spectra consistent with the presence of a CuF2 layer devoid of oxygen. Cyclic voltammetric experiments involving oxide-free Cu electrodes in hexafluorobutanol (HFB)+AHF displayed a prominent oxidation peak during the first few cycles. XPS analysis of Cu electrodes emersed at potentials positive to this feature provided evidence for the presence of a CuF2 layer much thicker than that found by simple immersion in AHF. Furthermore, the onset potential for both oxidation and subsequent reduction of the film was 0.0 V versus a Cu electrode in the same solution, which suggests that the Cu/CuF2 redox couple controls the potential of the reference electrode.
Keywords:X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS);cyclic voltammetry;anodic film;electrocatalysis;surface reactions;electrochemical fluorination