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Title: Characterization of potentiostatically prepared anodic lead oxide films on lead electrode in hot alkaline solution

Journal Article · · Journal of the Electrochemical Society
DOI:https://doi.org/10.1149/1.2044196· OSTI ID:82909

Some interesting results concerning the structure and photoelectrochemical properties of anodically prepared lead oxide films on Pb electrodes in hot alkaline solution are described. When a Ph electrode is anodically polarized in a 0.1M NaOH + 0.1M Na{sub 2}SO{sub 4} solution at 80 C at high over potentials, the {alpha}-PbO phase exclusively forms with a highly preferred orientation along the 110 plane. A nearly 14 {micro}m thick film with a high 110 orientation is obtained at potentials between {minus}0.5 and +0.3 V vs. SCE. Further, anodic films obtained at these potentials show typical n-type semiconductivity with donor concentrations on the order of 10{sup 15} cm{sup {minus}3}. In particular, the anodic film prepared at +0.3 V vs. SCE shows a solar-to-electrical-energy conversion efficiency of 1.55% and a very high quantum yield of nearly 80% for anodic photocurrent generation to visible monochromatic irradiation in 0.1M Fe(CN){sub 6}{sup 3{minus}/4{minus}} electrolyte which are the highest values reported so far for lead oxide-based cells. A correlation has been found between the structure of the anodic film and its photoactivity.

Sponsoring Organization:
USDOE
OSTI ID:
82909
Journal Information:
Journal of the Electrochemical Society, Vol. 142, Issue 6; Other Information: PBD: Jun 1995
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English