Silver/Silver Chloride Electrodes: Surface Morphology on Charging and Discharging

Abstract

Transport modes were determined from examinations of morphology for electrochemical oxidation and reduction within electrodes consisting of beds of silver spheres 37.2 μm in diameter in and subjected to 5.0 mA cm⁻² applied current density. Oxidation proceeded via silver dissolution, probably at dislocation sites, followed by diffusion and, then, deposition of in characteristic, bulbed mounds which grow together to form layers of approximately uniform thickness. film thickness, for the case of partially covered underlying silver, was about 3500Aå and distance from silver dissolution pits to deposition sites was found to be increased from 4,000 to 40.000Aå as the local transfer current density became larger within the sphere bed. Reduction of anodically formed on partially covered silver proceeded by an opposite path: solution and diffusion of , and deposition of silver on preferred sites of surrounding bare silver surface.