Collect. Czech. Chem. Commun.
2009, 74, 1583-1597
https://doi.org/10.1135/cccc2009515
Published online 2009-12-17 14:13:20
Adsorption of 2-thiobarbituric acid at the electrochemical interface: Contrasted behaviours on mercury and gold
Thomas Doneux, Mustapha El Achab and Claudine Buess-Herman*
Chimie Analytique et Chimie des Interfaces, Faculté des Sciences, Université Libre de Bruxelles, Boulevard du Triomphe, 2, CPI 255, 1050 Bruxelles, Belgium
Abstract
The adsorption of 2-thiobarbituric acid (TBA) from acid solutions (pH ~1) has been investigated at the Au(111) single crystal electrode and at the dropping mercury electrode. In contrast to the gold electrode where the adsorption is driven by the strong interaction between Au and the S atom, the TBA adsorption at the mercury electrode is more contrasted and distinct features such as capacitance pits are observed in the capacitance–potential curves. The kinetics of phase transformation were investigated by the potential step technique. The formation of films B and C prevailing in two distinct capacity pit regions is controlled by a nucleation and growth mechanism. Ordering of film A observed at the positive end of the potential region is also evidenced on the basis of the charge transients associated with its formation from film B or C. The two successive sigmoidal parts in the charge transient obtained at small overpotentials for the transformation of C to A is explained by the presence of an intermediate metastable film.
Keywords: 2-Thiobarbituric acid; Polarography; Gold electrode; Phase transition; Nucleation and growth; Electrochemistry.
References: 41 live references.
