The Open Electrochemistry Journal

2009, 1 : 49-55
Published online 2009 April 20. DOI: 10.2174/1876505X00901010049
Publisher ID: TOELECJ-1-49

Kinetic Study of the Hydrogen Oxidation Reaction on Membrane Coated Electrodes. Part I: Theoretical Aspects

C.A. Marozzi , M.R. Gennero de Chialvo and A. C. Chialvo
Programa de Electroquímica Aplicada e Ingeniería Electroquímica (PRELINE), Facultad de Ingeniería Química, Universidad Nacional del Litoral, Santiago del Estero 2829, 3000 Santa Fe, Argentina.

ABSTRACT

A generalized theoretical analysis of the kinetics of the hydrogen oxidation reaction under the Volmer- Heyrovsky-Tafel mechanism on an electrode covered by polymeric films is presented. The treatment includes the diffusion of the molecular hydrogen through the electrolyte solution, as well as through the different layers and interfaces. On the light of the resulting expressions, the applicability of the Levich-Koutecky diagrams for the determination of the kinetic current densities was critically analyzed.