Electrolysis of water at high electric field intensities: The fountain effects

The evolution of oxygen and hydrogen bubbles is investigated during electrolysis of acidic, neutral, and basic solutions in the concentration range 0.001 to I N at voltages ranging from 20 to 700 V. It is shown that, at these voltages, a nongravitational motion of the bubbles occurs in the normal direction to the vertical electrode's surface (fountain effects). The train of gas bubbles may move away from the electrode (straight fountain) or behind the electrode (reverse fountain). Changing the electrolysis conditions may change the fountain's direction. In the paper, the factors are discussed that influence the direction in which the gas trains move.