ELECTROCAPILLARY PHENOMENA ON SOLID GOLD IN MOLTEN ALKALI-HALIDES

The excessive surface free energy of solid gold in molten alkali chlorides, bromides, and iodides is measured by meniscus weight technique as a function of temperature and electric potential. The peculiarities of this interface are established and shown to be due to the partial charge transfer to the electrode from the anions adsorbed on a positively charged surface. This phenomenon was enhanced when the tension in the electrical double layer was increased and the temperature and bonding energy of the species in a salt melt was decreased. Adsorption interaction between the species resulted in the formation of anionic complex groups on the interface causing the recharge of the electrode surface and the increase in the interface resistance.