Analytical Application of Intercalation Processes

An analisys of alloy directly on surface example is interesting for many applications. Electrochemical methods, used in solving this problem, provide variability, low cost, minimal example treatment and informational content of analytic signal.

All the advantages of electrochemical nondestructive alloy  analisys can be realized by using appropriate electrode processes. We assume that intercalation is one these processes due to its high sensitivity to host structure composition. It was shown, that pulse chronopotentiometry is the most appropriate method for different intercalation processes.

Use of intercalation process type is determined mainly by nature of analyzed component. So, for metals with high overpotential it is convenient to use anodic intercalation in alkaline electrolytes or reduction of anodic oxide.

For metals with low overpotential (Au, Cu, Ag, Pt) intercalation of water and anions in anodic part of polarization give easy reductive adsorbed complex ions and their inverse reduction is displayed as a horizontal part on chronopotentiometry curve (Fig. 1). A length of such part is proportional to alloy component content, which provides analysis possibility.

Cathodic intercalation of lithium ions from acetonitrile electrolyte makes a basis of carbon determination in steels. Pulse chronopotentiograms of this process (fig. 2) have plato, which length change is proportional to carbon content.

Thus, electrochemical nondestructive alloy analisys on the base of intercalation processes is perspective adaptive method with a much of various tunning-up parameters.