Issue |
J. Chim. Phys.
Volume 72, 1975
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|
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Page(s) | 812 - 814 | |
DOI | https://doi.org/10.1051/jcp/1975720812 | |
Published online | 29 May 2017 |
J. Chim. Phys., Vol. 72 (1975), pp. 812–814
The treatment of cathode fall voltages in electric arcs - in terms of electrode potentials appropriate for metal/plasma interfaces
Hydro-Quebec Institute of Research, Varennes, P. Q., Canada.
The magnitude of cathode fall voltage, Vc, observed in an arc discharge involving pure metals has been treated in terms of electrochemical theory involving the concepts of reversible potential, E°, and overpotential, η. By analysing the cathode fall data for 32 metals, it is shown that E° is the lower limit to be expected for Vc for every metal and that Vc = E° + η. Here η is the irreversibility (in terms of applied cathode potential) that must be imposed on the equilibrium potential E° of the reaction at the metal/plasma interface, in order to achieve significant rates of the plasma electrode reaction, M → M+ + e.
© Paris : Société de Chimie Physique, 1975