Studies of electrochemical nucleation by means of standard and modified pulse potentiostatic techniques

This report compares experimental data for the overpotential dependence of the stationary nucleation rate I-st and of the induction time t(o) obtained in two different ways: (i) by varying the potential E-n of the working electrode at a constant concentration of metal ions (standard pulse potentiostatic technique), and (ii) by varying the concentration of metal ions at a constant electrode potential E-n (modified pulse potentiostatic technique). It is shown that the latter experimental method allows us to fix the surface state of the working electrode and to create well-defined conditions for nucleus formation. Information is obtained on the rate-determining step of the nucleation process. (C) 2000 Elsevier Science S.A. All rights reserved.