Phase Transformation during the Selective Dissolution of a Cu

This study determined the critical parameters for the morphological development of the electrode surface (the critical potential and the critical charge) during anodic selective dissolution of a Cu-Pd alloy with a volume concentration of 15 at.% palladium. When the critical values were exceeded, a phase transition occurred with the formation of palladium's own phase. Chronoamperometry aided in the determination of the partial rates of copper ionization and phase transformation of palladium under overcritical selective dissolution conditions. The study determined that the formation of a new palladium phase is controlled by a surface diffusion of the ad-atom to the growing three-dimensional nucleus under instantaneous activation of the nucleation centres. We also identified the role of this process in the formation of the electrocatalytic activity of the anodically modified alloy during electro-oxidation of formic acid. This study demonstrated that HCOOH is only oxidated at a relatively high rate on the surface of the Cu