Promotion of hydrogen entry into iron from NaOH solution by iron–oxygen species

This study was carried out to explain reasons of the enhanced hydrogen entry into iron at low polarisations. Hydrogen permeation rate (HPR) through a 35-μm thick iron membrane was studied with the electrochemical technique in 0.1 M NaOH at 25 °C. A rotating split-ring disk electrode was used to detect soluble Fe(II) species. Enhanced hydrogen entry (HPR peaks) was observed at low cathodic and low anodic polarisations during voltammetric cycling, and also during galvanostatic anodic polarisation applied after cathodic charging. HPR peaks occurred at potentials from about −1.2 to −0.9 V (NHE) which were more cathodic than the potentials of thermodynamic stability of Fe(OH)2 or Fe3O4, and of the formation of soluble Fe(II) species. It has been suggested that the enhanced hydrogen entry is associated with the presence of FeOHad. In this species oxygen is bound with hydrogen (oxo-hydride), hence it can be supposed that the mechanism of its promoting effect can be similar to that of hydrides of other elements of the VIb group.