ELECTROCHEMICAL AND OPTICAL PROPERTIES OF THIN FILMS.

Coordinator: Dr. Jorge O. Zerbino

The electrochemical and electrochromic properties of thin oxide and polymeric layers are analysed using potentiostatic and transient methods. The application "in situ" of several electrochemical and optical techniques, such as voltammetry, ellipsometry (in the visible optical range), isoelectric point, electrochemical and photocurrent impedance spectroscopy, lead to a detailed description of the interface. The interfacial electrodynamics is related to the microstructure of single films or multilayers, which are grown through different chemical and electrochemical methods.
Therefore corrosion and inhibition mechanisms, charge transfer, charge storage capacity, film growth kinetics, ionic and water exchange, pseudocapacity, catalytic and adsorption properties and photoresponse of the different processes involved in these systems are investigated.

Selected publications in the frame of this project (2007 - 2008)

* “Electrochemical and Ellipsometric Study of Polypyrrol Films in Solutions Containing Ascorbic Acid”.
J.O. Zerbino, L. Pesetti y M.G. Sustersic
Journal of Molecular Liquids 131-132, 185-189 (2007).

* “Corrosion Crack Enhancement During the Cathodic Activation of Zirconium AB2 Alloys”.
J.O. Zerbino, A. Visintin y W.E. Triaca
Journal of Solid State Electrochemistry 12 (5), 545-551 (2008).

* “Catalytic effects produced by cathodization of platinum electrodes in sulphuric solutions”.
V. Diaz, J.O. Zerbino, M.E. Martins, M.G. Sustersic y F. Zinola
International Journal of Hydrogen Energy 33, 3502-3505 (2008).