Ion exchange at the electrode/electrolyte interface studied by probe beam deflection techniques
Abstract
Probe beam deflection (PBD) techniques are a set of in situ electrochemical methods based on the measurement of refractive index gradients in front of the electrode/electrolyte interface. Here, the details of the techniques are described. First, the theory of potential step chronodeflectometry and pulse voltadeflectometry is discussed. Later, different numerical procedures used for data processing and/or simulation of cyclic voltadeflectometry experiments are described. Then, an overview is performed of the techniques use to study electrochemical systems. The systems described are limited to surface species in binary electrolytes, where a clear interpretation of the data is possible. Among the systems studied are: surface reactions on solid electrodes, electrochromic