Electrochemical oscillations during copper electrodissolution/passivation in trifluoroacetic acid induced by current interrupt method

• We applied current interrupt method on the electrochemical oscillator Cu/TFA.
• Current interrupt method allows direct monitoring of the oscillatory i–E trajectory.
• Simultaneous oscillations of the electric current and the electrode potential.
• i–E polarization curve shown as continuous dynamic loop.
• Oscillatory behavior of the double-layer potential.

Complex oscillatory behavior of electric current and electrode potential were observed during potentiodynamic anodic polarization of Cu in 1 M TFA, applying the current interrupt method for IR drop compensation. This oscillatory behavior was found to give an electrochemical response in the form of a polarization curve with continuous loop. The results presented show that the current interrupt method is capable of eliminating the entire IR drop. Under such conditions, oscillations of the applied potential are in fact those of the double-layer potential. Theoretically predicted interplay between oscillatory behavior of the double-layer potential and the electric current is experimentally demonstrated.

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