Influence of etching of polycrystalline Au-, Pt- and glassy carbon surfaces with OH radicals on electrodeposition of metals

Au-, Pt- and glassy carbon (GC) surfaces were treated with OH radicals before performing the metal electrodeposition. The number of active sites at electrodes diminished, since after the treatment smaller numbers of nuclei were formed. Electrodeposition of Ag, as a model system, was selected for this examination. The drop in surface activity towards nucleation was found to be a function of treatment time. The biggest changes, including a change in nucleation mechanism, were noticed for the glassy carbon surface. The use of OH radicals gives a chance of controlling the density of silver nuclei on all examined surfaces.

► Hydroxyl radicals remove active sites from electrode materials. ► The number of silver nuclei diminish at surfaces treated with radicals. ► At Pt electrodes the results of action of Fenton- and H2O2 solution are very similar.