A mechanism of interaction of copper with a deoxygenated neutral aqueous solution

The electrochemical behaviour of Cu exposed to deoxygenated borate buffer for 330 h was characterised by chronopotentiometry, voltammetry, electrochemical impedance spectroscopy and cupric ion-selective electrode measurements. The results were interpreted by a quantitative kinetic model of the copper/electrolyte interface featuring two adsorbed intermediates produced by interaction of Cu with adsorbed water and electrochemical reduction of soluble divalent copper. The model reproduces successfully both the current vs. potential curve and the electrochemical impedance spectra around the open-circuit potential. On the basis of the experimental and calculation results, tentative conclusions for the interplay between hydrogen generation and copper corrosion are drawn.