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Australian electrochemistry conference
JOURKAL OF ELECTROANALYTICAL
16s
CHEMISTRY
REPORT
AUSTRALIAN
ELECTROCHEMISTRY
CONFERENCE
The first Australian Conierence on Electrochemistry was held at the University of New South Wales, Sydney, from rxth-rgth February and at the University of Tasmania, Hobart, from rSth-20th February, rg63. It was sponsored by the Royal Australian Chemical Institute, The University of Tasmania, the University of New South Wales, and 39 industrial companies based in Australia_ \Vith about ISO active participants, it was by no means a large chemistry meeting. Nevertheless, the field covered was extremely wide and a number of important contributions were made to our knowledge of both reversible and irreversible processes. Some IS countries were represented by 26 overseas conferees. The proceedings were divided into 12 sessions, 6 at each of the centres, and each session began with the chariman’s address which was followed by 5 or 6 contributed papers. Mr. J- M. BUTLER, the chairman of the first session at Sydney on AppZkations (Electroplating, A~~odizing;), delivered a lecture on Ebctroclzenz&ry in Industry in which he surveyed the whole field. Then followed six papers dealing with the practical side of electroplating; EZectroZytic Tin Plating (J. LE B_4s), Practical Applicatiotts of A~todic Coatin,o in Nameplate Mcmcfactrrre with Industrial Anodizing (R. D_ rSAACSj, Ni-C7
(W.
Coatings
H. BURTON)
Some Problems Associated of Corrosion of Decorative
(G. N. FLINT and S_ H. MELBOURNE), EZectropZating of Die-Cast Pa& and Electrodeposition from a Szclphamate Bath (T. L. RAMA CHAR).
The next session, Solid State Clmnistry, sed the Meeting
(A. RAYMOND), EZectmc?~enzistry
on the subject
was EZementary
chaired by Dr. A. L. G. REES who addresProcesses in Solid State Reactions. In this
he gave a most interesting account of the present state of the theory and in the 6 contributed papers that foliowed, a number of techniques such as electron diffraction, surface potential, nuclear quadrupok rc5zl;afcn, and microscopic investigations were applied to the problem of semiconductor surface structure and some other reactions occurring at solid surfaces. D. HANEMAN (University of N.S.W.) discussed the effect of solute ions at a semiconductor-electrolyte interface in disturbing surface bond orbitak In two contributions from Melbourne University, J. R. ANDERSON and N. J_ CLARK discussed the mechanism of the interaction of chlorine and of oxygen with evaporated sodium films, whilst P. J_ THISTLETHWAITE, K. R_ TURN~ULL and P. J_ FENSHAM considered the electrical properties of poly-crystalline oxide semiconductors. Professor J_ A. ALLEN (Newcastle University College) followed with an interesting paper on the electrochemistry of the silver oxides with special reference to thermal properties. J_ Electroaxal.
Chem..
6 (1963)
168-171
AUSTRALIAN ELECTROCHEJIISTRYCONFERENCE
169
1t was most unfortunate that Professor DELAHAY, the chairman of the session on Electroanalytical Methods, was unable to attend the conference owing to a serious illness. At short notice however, Professor W. H. REIN~IUTH deputised and gave an engaging account of the advantages of using analogue amplifiers for tackling problems associated with electrode-solution interfaces_ The talk was of particular interest to the less electronically minded electrochemists. 1u three contributions from the University of Sydney new developments in the use of a-c. polarography were described. The session concluded. with a number of papers concerned with analytical aspects of polarographic, potentiometric, coulometric and spectrophotometric methods of investigation. The next series of papers was concerned with corrosion_ The chairman, Professor A. E, JENKINS, addressed the meeting on the subject of Corrosion at High Tem$watzwes. The importance of equilibrium potential-pH diagrams in explaining some of the experimental results of corrosion experiments and the use of potentiostats in such studies, was discussed in two gapers by M. POURB_41x and co-authors (Centre Belge de L’Etude de la Corrosion, Brussels). Potentiostatic methods also formed the basis of papersby W. T. DENHOLX (potemiostatic study of Fe-Cr alloys) and A. E. SUSSEX (two applications of potc?tios
Chem..
6 (1963)
IGS-171
G_
17“
On Saturday, 16th February, the down to Hobart where the weather for the British
participants.
H_ NANCOLLSS
conference moved by various means of transport was a good deal cooler and more pleasant, at least
The opening session on the Monday,
Non-apreozts
Ekc-
presided over by Professor H. N. PARTON. He gave a most interest&g account of the subject in his lecture on ions in non-aqueous solutions. Contributed papers included: VoLtage Current Characteristics of Benzene (E. 0. FORSTER), TIze Behaviour of SiZver and Halide Ion Responsive EZectrodes in Mixed SoZvents (E. BISHOP and R. G. trolytes,
was
DHANESWHAR) and Tr@Ze Ion Equilibria paper
Investigation
of the Khzetic
in Acetic
of Electrode
Acid
Reactions
(R_ J. L. MARTIN). In the last of Organic
Compounds.
(l&T_
FLEISCKRIANN, I. N. PETROV and W. F. WYNNE- JONES), Professor Wynne-Jones gave an elegant account of the possibilities of using controlled potential pulse electrolysis
to erramine
the detailed
electrode
processes.
A session dealing with molten salts indicated the range of interests covered by the of ions in molconference. Dr_ G. W_ BLLORS, the chairm an, discussed the solvation ten salts. Contributed papers dealt with standard electrode potentials and the electromotive force series in molten MgClrNaCl-KC1 (H. C. GXURAND and W. K. BEHL), polarised electrode methods for the study of diffusion coefficients in fused salts (J_ W. TO~ILINSON and C_ A. ANGELL), potentiometric acid-base titrations in fused salts (A. M_ SHA~IS EL Dm and A. A. A. GERGES), the surface tension of molten fluorides (K_ J_ WIL~IHURST. S. SENDEROFF and G. W. MELLORS) and transport number measurements (H. BLOO~I and A. J_ EASTEAL).
In a special session on electrochemical processes, the chairman, Professor B_ E. CONBAY, spoke about the position of electrochemistry in up-to-date chemical physics and physical chemistry_ The contributed papers in this session covered a wide field ranging from differential electrolytic potentiometry (E. BISHOP, R. G. DH_~NESW_~R2nd G_ D.
SHORT), to some biochemical aspects (IM. J. ALLEN and M. P\TICHOLSON).jirofessor J_ O’M BOCKRIS in his paper on the structure of charged interfaces, put forward a model of the electrical double-layer which involved a fixed layer of solvent between solvated ions and the electrode surface. He also proposed a formulation of the doublelayer in terms of electrostatic forces only_ Although this model explains some of the observed phenomena, it obviously has a number of shortcomings which were debated during
a lively
discussion_
Fuel cell electrochemists were catered for in an interesting session under the chaknainship of Dr. R. A. WYNVEEN and contributed papers dealt mainly with the practical
problemsof cellconstructionandpossible elect rode reactions. Thework at theC.S.I.R.0. Laboratories at Melbourne was described ir two papers by H. R. SKEWES and D_ F_ A. KOCH, and P_ L. SPEDDING discussed fuel cell electrolytes. A session on electrode processes began with a lecture by the chairman, Professor J_ O’M_ BOCKRIS, on Basic im ELectrode ProcessesThe papers which followed dealt mainly with kinetic aspects of the subject including a quantum mechanical treatment (S. G..CHRISTOV of Bulgaria) and a discussion of the hydrogen evolution reaction (J_ HORIU~, A. MATSUDA, N_ ENYO and H_ KITX of Hok+ido University)_
Problems
J_ EZec#roanaZ.
Chem.,
6 (1963)
168-171
BOOK REVIEW
=7=
A final session of the conference on electro-winning and electro-refining was presided over by Dr- N. E_ RICHARDS who spoke about some recent developments in the electrolytic -xtraction of light metals. The papers which followed covered a variety of aspects oi the subject including surface properties of molten mixtures (H. BLOOM and WARK
B.
W. and
BURROWS)
and
the
the other by G. C.
electrodeposition and W. N.
BRAM
of zinc SMITH).
(two
papers;
one by
I
W.
A visitor to AustraLia is immediately impressed by the tremendous potentialities of the country. The meetings were held in the delightful new buildings of the Universities of New South Wales and of Tasmania, and since the number of participants was relatively small, there was ample opportunity for discussions outside the conference hall. Indeed it was this which made the conference as a whole so successful_ The proceedings of the conference will be published shortly by Pergamon Press Limited, and will contain, in full. the chairmen’s addresses and all the contributed papers. (Received
May rqth, rg63)
G. H. J_ Eledvoanal.
Book
Chew_.
NANCOLL4S
G (1963)
16S-171
Review
The Analysis of Titanium, Zirconium and their AZloys, par W. T. WOODS, John Wiley and Sons Ltd., London 1961, I@ pp., 54 s.
ELWELL
et D.
F.
Ce livre prCsente les derniers pro&d& utilises r&uh&rement au laboratoire par les auteurs dans le domaine de l’analyse du titane, du zirconium et de leurs alliages. La premiere par-tie de l’ouvrage eat consacrCe a l’khantillonnage et l’on y insiste specialement sur les precautions A apporter aux opkations de machinage qui doivent s’effectuer sans khauffement excessif, le titane finement divise et surtout le zirconium s’oxydant tr&s rapidement et t5tant, de plus, pyrophorique. Quelques renseignements gPnkraux sur les rbactifs, la mise en solution etc. suivent cette premiere partie. Il serait fastidieux d’&-mmCrer ensuite tous les elements dCterminCs aussi bien dans le titane que dans le zirconium, une trentaine dans chaque cas, par des methodes
Dans la plupart des cas, les chirniques, ainsi que ceux d&e rminespar spectrographic. methodes utilisees pour le titane et pour le zirconium sont identiques, seuls quelques details qui sont d’ailleurs parfaitement dCcrits_ Nous crayons utile de siG;laler les methodes plus speciales appliqudes au dosage dur carbone, de l’hydrogene, de L’azote On sait en effet combien il est important de pouvoir contr8ler et de l’oxygene. exactement la teneur en ces ClCments, les propri&Cs mecaniques des metaux purs &ant fortement influencees par leur variation. Pour le carbone. trois pro&d& sont decrits; ils perrnettent de doser jusqu’g o.oI~/~ de carbone dans le metal avec une precision de IO~/~. Pour l’hydrogene, on utilise une methode basCe soit sur l’extraction du gaz par chauffage du m&al sous Vide, soit sur la fusion reductrice du metal et la mesure succequante de l’hydrog&ne (d-ans ce demier cas l’oxyg&ne est dose en plus sous forme de CO). La premiere de ces mCthodes per-met de doser jusqu’a o.oo~~/~ d’hydroghne avec une prkision de 6O/,. J_ EZectroanaZ.
Chem.,
6 (1963)
171-172
16s
CHEMISTRY
REPORT
AUSTRALIAN
ELECTROCHEMISTRY
CONFERENCE
The first Australian Conierence on Electrochemistry was held at the University of New South Wales, Sydney, from rxth-rgth February and at the University of Tasmania, Hobart, from rSth-20th February, rg63. It was sponsored by the Royal Australian Chemical Institute, The University of Tasmania, the University of New South Wales, and 39 industrial companies based in Australia_ \Vith about ISO active participants, it was by no means a large chemistry meeting. Nevertheless, the field covered was extremely wide and a number of important contributions were made to our knowledge of both reversible and irreversible processes. Some IS countries were represented by 26 overseas conferees. The proceedings were divided into 12 sessions, 6 at each of the centres, and each session began with the chariman’s address which was followed by 5 or 6 contributed papers. Mr. J- M. BUTLER, the chairman of the first session at Sydney on AppZkations (Electroplating, A~~odizing;), delivered a lecture on Ebctroclzenz&ry in Industry in which he surveyed the whole field. Then followed six papers dealing with the practical side of electroplating; EZectroZytic Tin Plating (J. LE B_4s), Practical Applicatiotts of A~todic Coatin,o in Nameplate Mcmcfactrrre with Industrial Anodizing (R. D_ rSAACSj, Ni-C7
(W.
Coatings
H. BURTON)
Some Problems Associated of Corrosion of Decorative
(G. N. FLINT and S_ H. MELBOURNE), EZectropZating of Die-Cast Pa& and Electrodeposition from a Szclphamate Bath (T. L. RAMA CHAR).
The next session, Solid State Clmnistry, sed the Meeting
(A. RAYMOND), EZectmc?~enzistry
on the subject
was EZementary
chaired by Dr. A. L. G. REES who addresProcesses in Solid State Reactions. In this
he gave a most interesting account of the present state of the theory and in the 6 contributed papers that foliowed, a number of techniques such as electron diffraction, surface potential, nuclear quadrupok rc5zl;afcn, and microscopic investigations were applied to the problem of semiconductor surface structure and some other reactions occurring at solid surfaces. D. HANEMAN (University of N.S.W.) discussed the effect of solute ions at a semiconductor-electrolyte interface in disturbing surface bond orbitak In two contributions from Melbourne University, J. R. ANDERSON and N. J_ CLARK discussed the mechanism of the interaction of chlorine and of oxygen with evaporated sodium films, whilst P. J_ THISTLETHWAITE, K. R_ TURN~ULL and P. J_ FENSHAM considered the electrical properties of poly-crystalline oxide semiconductors. Professor J_ A. ALLEN (Newcastle University College) followed with an interesting paper on the electrochemistry of the silver oxides with special reference to thermal properties. J_ Electroaxal.
Chem..
6 (1963)
168-171
AUSTRALIAN ELECTROCHEJIISTRYCONFERENCE
169
1t was most unfortunate that Professor DELAHAY, the chairman of the session on Electroanalytical Methods, was unable to attend the conference owing to a serious illness. At short notice however, Professor W. H. REIN~IUTH deputised and gave an engaging account of the advantages of using analogue amplifiers for tackling problems associated with electrode-solution interfaces_ The talk was of particular interest to the less electronically minded electrochemists. 1u three contributions from the University of Sydney new developments in the use of a-c. polarography were described. The session concluded. with a number of papers concerned with analytical aspects of polarographic, potentiometric, coulometric and spectrophotometric methods of investigation. The next series of papers was concerned with corrosion_ The chairman, Professor A. E, JENKINS, addressed the meeting on the subject of Corrosion at High Tem$watzwes. The importance of equilibrium potential-pH diagrams in explaining some of the experimental results of corrosion experiments and the use of potentiostats in such studies, was discussed in two gapers by M. POURB_41x and co-authors (Centre Belge de L’Etude de la Corrosion, Brussels). Potentiostatic methods also formed the basis of papersby W. T. DENHOLX (potemiostatic study of Fe-Cr alloys) and A. E. SUSSEX (two applications of potc?tios
Chem..
6 (1963)
IGS-171
G_
17“
On Saturday, 16th February, the down to Hobart where the weather for the British
participants.
H_ NANCOLLSS
conference moved by various means of transport was a good deal cooler and more pleasant, at least
The opening session on the Monday,
Non-apreozts
Ekc-
presided over by Professor H. N. PARTON. He gave a most interest&g account of the subject in his lecture on ions in non-aqueous solutions. Contributed papers included: VoLtage Current Characteristics of Benzene (E. 0. FORSTER), TIze Behaviour of SiZver and Halide Ion Responsive EZectrodes in Mixed SoZvents (E. BISHOP and R. G. trolytes,
was
DHANESWHAR) and Tr@Ze Ion Equilibria paper
Investigation
of the Khzetic
in Acetic
of Electrode
Acid
Reactions
(R_ J. L. MARTIN). In the last of Organic
Compounds.
(l&T_
FLEISCKRIANN, I. N. PETROV and W. F. WYNNE- JONES), Professor Wynne-Jones gave an elegant account of the possibilities of using controlled potential pulse electrolysis
to erramine
the detailed
electrode
processes.
A session dealing with molten salts indicated the range of interests covered by the of ions in molconference. Dr_ G. W_ BLLORS, the chairm an, discussed the solvation ten salts. Contributed papers dealt with standard electrode potentials and the electromotive force series in molten MgClrNaCl-KC1 (H. C. GXURAND and W. K. BEHL), polarised electrode methods for the study of diffusion coefficients in fused salts (J_ W. TO~ILINSON and C_ A. ANGELL), potentiometric acid-base titrations in fused salts (A. M_ SHA~IS EL Dm and A. A. A. GERGES), the surface tension of molten fluorides (K_ J_ WIL~IHURST. S. SENDEROFF and G. W. MELLORS) and transport number measurements (H. BLOO~I and A. J_ EASTEAL).
In a special session on electrochemical processes, the chairman, Professor B_ E. CONBAY, spoke about the position of electrochemistry in up-to-date chemical physics and physical chemistry_ The contributed papers in this session covered a wide field ranging from differential electrolytic potentiometry (E. BISHOP, R. G. DH_~NESW_~R2nd G_ D.
SHORT), to some biochemical aspects (IM. J. ALLEN and M. P\TICHOLSON).jirofessor J_ O’M BOCKRIS in his paper on the structure of charged interfaces, put forward a model of the electrical double-layer which involved a fixed layer of solvent between solvated ions and the electrode surface. He also proposed a formulation of the doublelayer in terms of electrostatic forces only_ Although this model explains some of the observed phenomena, it obviously has a number of shortcomings which were debated during
a lively
discussion_
Fuel cell electrochemists were catered for in an interesting session under the chaknainship of Dr. R. A. WYNVEEN and contributed papers dealt mainly with the practical
problemsof cellconstructionandpossible elect rode reactions. Thework at theC.S.I.R.0. Laboratories at Melbourne was described ir two papers by H. R. SKEWES and D_ F_ A. KOCH, and P_ L. SPEDDING discussed fuel cell electrolytes. A session on electrode processes began with a lecture by the chairman, Professor J_ O’M_ BOCKRIS, on Basic im ELectrode ProcessesThe papers which followed dealt mainly with kinetic aspects of the subject including a quantum mechanical treatment (S. G..CHRISTOV of Bulgaria) and a discussion of the hydrogen evolution reaction (J_ HORIU~, A. MATSUDA, N_ ENYO and H_ KITX of Hok+ido University)_
Problems
J_ EZec#roanaZ.
Chem.,
6 (1963)
168-171
BOOK REVIEW
=7=
A final session of the conference on electro-winning and electro-refining was presided over by Dr- N. E_ RICHARDS who spoke about some recent developments in the electrolytic -xtraction of light metals. The papers which followed covered a variety of aspects oi the subject including surface properties of molten mixtures (H. BLOOM and WARK
B.
W. and
BURROWS)
and
the
the other by G. C.
electrodeposition and W. N.
BRAM
of zinc SMITH).
(two
papers;
one by
I
W.
A visitor to AustraLia is immediately impressed by the tremendous potentialities of the country. The meetings were held in the delightful new buildings of the Universities of New South Wales and of Tasmania, and since the number of participants was relatively small, there was ample opportunity for discussions outside the conference hall. Indeed it was this which made the conference as a whole so successful_ The proceedings of the conference will be published shortly by Pergamon Press Limited, and will contain, in full. the chairmen’s addresses and all the contributed papers. (Received
May rqth, rg63)
G. H. J_ Eledvoanal.
Book
Chew_.
NANCOLL4S
G (1963)
16S-171
Review
The Analysis of Titanium, Zirconium and their AZloys, par W. T. WOODS, John Wiley and Sons Ltd., London 1961, I@ pp., 54 s.
ELWELL
et D.
F.
Ce livre prCsente les derniers pro&d& utilises r&uh&rement au laboratoire par les auteurs dans le domaine de l’analyse du titane, du zirconium et de leurs alliages. La premiere par-tie de l’ouvrage eat consacrCe a l’khantillonnage et l’on y insiste specialement sur les precautions A apporter aux opkations de machinage qui doivent s’effectuer sans khauffement excessif, le titane finement divise et surtout le zirconium s’oxydant tr&s rapidement et t5tant, de plus, pyrophorique. Quelques renseignements gPnkraux sur les rbactifs, la mise en solution etc. suivent cette premiere partie. Il serait fastidieux d’&-mmCrer ensuite tous les elements dCterminCs aussi bien dans le titane que dans le zirconium, une trentaine dans chaque cas, par des methodes
Dans la plupart des cas, les chirniques, ainsi que ceux d&e rminespar spectrographic. methodes utilisees pour le titane et pour le zirconium sont identiques, seuls quelques details qui sont d’ailleurs parfaitement dCcrits_ Nous crayons utile de siG;laler les methodes plus speciales appliqudes au dosage dur carbone, de l’hydrogene, de L’azote On sait en effet combien il est important de pouvoir contr8ler et de l’oxygene. exactement la teneur en ces ClCments, les propri&Cs mecaniques des metaux purs &ant fortement influencees par leur variation. Pour le carbone. trois pro&d& sont decrits; ils perrnettent de doser jusqu’g o.oI~/~ de carbone dans le metal avec une precision de IO~/~. Pour l’hydrogene, on utilise une methode basCe soit sur l’extraction du gaz par chauffage du m&al sous Vide, soit sur la fusion reductrice du metal et la mesure succequante de l’hydrog&ne (d-ans ce demier cas l’oxyg&ne est dose en plus sous forme de CO). La premiere de ces mCthodes per-met de doser jusqu’a o.oo~~/~ d’hydroghne avec une prkision de 6O/,. J_ EZectroanaZ.
Chem.,
6 (1963)
171-172