ELECTROCHEMICAL-BEHAVIOR OF AN INDIUM ELECTRODE IN CONCENTRATED KOH SOLUTIONS AT DIFFERENT TEMPERATURES

The electrochemical behaviour of pure indium in KOH solutions (1-4 M) was studied at different temperatures (25-70-degrees-C) by potentiostatic techniques. Two anodic peaks corresponding to the formation of In(OH)3 and In2O3 were observed. The heights of the two peaks increased with the increase of alkali concentration. An increase of temperature increased the peak currents and shifted their corresponding potentials to more negative values. The variation of the peak currents and peak potentials with scan rate suggested that the anodic dissolution of indium was a diffusion controlled process. In cyclic voltammetry, the reverse scan consistently showed one peak which was attributed to the reduction of anodic oxidation products into indium. X-ray diffraction analysis confirmed the presence of In(OH)3 at the first anodic peak, In(OH)3 and In2O3 at the second anodic peak and In2O3 in the permanent passive region.