ChemInform Abstract: Aqueous Electrochemistry of Tellurium at Glassy Carbon and Gold. A Combined Voltammetry-Oscillating Quartz Crystal Microgravimetry Study.

ChemInform Abstract

The voltammetry profiles obtained for Te in aqueous H₂SO₄ at glassy carbon and Au working electrodes show a remarkable degree of sensitivity to the electrode surface. A set of waves attributable to the direct 6e- reduction of HTeO₂⁺ to H₂Te, and a cathodic pre-wave associated with the catalytic deposition of Te(0), are observed at the Au surface, whereas these features are absent at the glassy carbon electrode. On the other hand, the 2e- reduction of Te(0) to H₂Te occurs in a similar fashion at the two electrode surfaces. Evidence for a follow-up homogeneous reaction chemistry involving HTeO₂⁺ and H₂Te is presented. The described results demonstrate the applicability of oscillating quartz crystal microgravimetry for studies of the electrodeposition of semiconductors. Using a combination of the voltammetric and microgravimetric data, an internally consistent mechanistic scheme for the aqueous electrochemistry of Te is presented.