Rotating Disk Electrode Techniques for the Study of Addition Agents I. Preliminary Studies with Cupric Sulfate Solutions

The rotating disk electrode is being used as a tool to study the influence of organic addit ion agents on the electrodeposit ion f metals; the init ial phases of the study are reported in this paper. Rotating disk electrode theory has been verified for deposition of copper from cupric sulfate solutions in the presence of certain ratios of inert electrolyte ions. The exper imental conditions required to proceed with a study of the role of organic additives have been established. It is found that current density is distr ibuted uni formly across the surface of the disk electrode. Many deta i ls of the inf luence of organic addi t ion agents on the e lectrodeposi t ion f meta ls are st i l l un-resolved. To at tack certa in phases of this prob lem, it is des i rab le to s tudy the e lectrodeposi t ion process under the most e lementary condit ions, i.e., with the number of uncontro l led var iab les at a min imum. Be