화학공학소재연구정보센터
Journal of Physical Chemistry A, Vol.103, No.1, 33-37, 1999
An electrochemically induced oscillatory instability
We report current oscillations during the potentiostatic oxidation of iodide in aqueous solution. The oscillations become visible as columns of descending liquid with periodic structure colored by iodine (or iodine-starch complex). They can be attributed to a periodically varying flow of solution in front of the electrode due to a density gradient. The instability is explained using a qualitative model with a threshold function for the onset of the flow.