Journal of Physical Chemistry A, Vol.105, No.1, 104-111, 2001
Studies of double-layer effects at single crystal gold electrodes II. The reduction kinetics of hexaaquairon(III) ion in aqueous solutions
The reduction kinetics of hexaaquairon(III) was studied at different concentrations of perchloric acid at four single-crystal gold electrodes. The electron-transfer rate constants obtained at constant electrode potential increase in the following order: Au(210) < Au(110) < Au(100) < Au(111). The experimental transfer coefficients increase in the same order. An analysis of double-layer effects within the framework of the classical Frumkin approach was consistent with the transport of a reactant of charge 2+ through the double-layer region and gave a value of the apparent transfer coefficient (a) equal to 0.3 for all single-crystal electrodes studied. The alpha (a) value was rationalized by the distribution of charges within the reactant and product. The differences between double-layer effects on the reduction kinetics of hexaaquairon(III) and hexaamminecobalt(III) ions are discussed.