Radially distributed charging time constants at an electrode-solution interface

Abstract

An electrochemically homogeneous electrode-solution interface should be understood as spatially invariant in both terms of intrinsic reactivity for the electrode side and electrical resistance mainly for the solution side. The latter remains presumably assumed in almost all cases. However, by using optical microscopy to spatially resolve the classic redox electrochemistry occurring at the whole surface of a gold macroelectrode, we discover that the electron transfer occurs always significantly sooner (by milliseconds), rather than faster in essence, at the radial coordinates closer to the electrode periphery than the very center. So is the charging process when there is no electron transfer. Based on optical measurements of the interfacial impedance, this spatially unsynchronized electron transfer is attributed to a radially non-uniform distribution of solution resistance. We accordingly manage to eliminate the heterogeneity by engineering the solution resistance distribution. The revealed spatially-dependent charging time ‘constant’ (to be questioned) would help paint our overall fundamental picture of electrode kinetics.

Classical theories of electrode kinetics assume a homogeneous electrode-solution interface. Here, authors reveal that electron transfer at a macroscopic electrode exhibits significant spatial inhomogeneity due to nonuniform solution resistance, which can be reduced by a retracted electrode design.