Electrochemical nucleation from molten salts—II: Time dependent phenomena in electrochemical nucleation

The double pulse potential step method has been used to investigate the kinetics of nucleation of metal deposition from molten salts and from aqueous solution. The time lag or induction period, τ₀, required for the growth of stable nuclei was determined as a function of overpotential. η. The relationship between log τ₀ and η was found to be markedly non-linear and the existing theory is re-examined and modified to allow for the effect of nucleus size and interfacial tension on the charge-transfer kinetics themselves.