The reduction of nitrate at copper, cadmium and copper-cadmium alloy electrodes
Date
1997
Authors
Schlagel, Deborah Lynn
Major Professor
Advisor
Miller, Gordon J.
Johnson, Dennis C.
Committee Member
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Abstract
This is a study of the reduction of nitrate at cadmium and copper films electrodeposited onto a gold rotating disk electrode (ROE). Our goal is to find an electrode material that supports the reduction of nitrate to nitrite but not the further reduction of nitrite to ammonia.
The electrochemistry between copper, cadmium and Cu-Cd rotating disk electrodes (RDEs) and nitrate ions in slightly basic aqueous solution (Tris(hydroxymethyl)aminomethane (TRIS) buffer, pH 8.0) has been studied, but the mechanism of electron transfer has not been specifically addressed. We have chosen to use semi-empirical calculations to enter the black box before us and look at the orbital interactions between the oxygens of nitrate and the surface metal atoms of copper, cadmium and Cu-Cd electrodes.
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thesis