Electrodissolution of copper in acidic chloride solutions is strongly influenced by mass transfer over a wide potential range (e.g., References 1 and 2 and references contained therein). Above the rest potential, an apparent Tafel region, in which copper electrodissolution is not activation-controlled, is observed, followed by a current maximum, and then a current plateau. In all three regions, copper electrooxides to Cu(I) with strong diffusion effects observed. Rotating disk studies show that the latter is a limiting diffusion current. On the other hand, the electrodissolution of nickel in acidic chloride solutions show no such diffusion effects.3
Recent studies of copper-nickel alloys (90/10 and 60/40 Cu-Ni) in acidic chloride solutions4,5 show some similarities in anodic behavior to that reported for pure copper. The anodic behavior at potentials of the current maximum and above was the primary emphasis in their work. This note reports on some preliminary anodic...
