Electrochemical properties and solubility of URh3 in nitric acid solutions

Abstract

Electrochemical properties of the intermetallic compound URh₃ in 0.5–8 M HNO₃ solutions were studied by linear voltammetry. The electrochemical characteristics of URh₃ in nitric acid solution were determined for the first time using the Tafel equation. URh₃ is highly resistant to both chemical and anodic dissolution, which is due to formation of passive films on the electrode surface. All the anodic oxidation processes observed on the electrode led to secondary passivation of the alloy and not to its dissolution. The conclusions based on the electrochemical data were confirmed by experiments in 8 M HNO₃.