Electrochemical behaviour of Cu-Zr and Cu-Ti glassy alloys

Hydrogen evolution is a fundamental reaction for better understanding of electrochemical activity of electrode materials. Amorphous Cu-Zr and Cu-Ti ribbons were produced by melt spinning methods and were characterized by X-ray diffraction, scanning electron microscopy and differential scanning calorimetry. The electrocatalytic efficiency was evaluated on the basis of electrochemical data obtained from cathodic polarization curves carried out in both acid and basic medium at 25°C. The surfaces of amorphous materials were prepared, before electrochemical measurements, by immersion in HF solutions. The results were compared to those obtained on polycrystalline copper and on untreated ribbons. The HF treatment yielded a porous copper structure with a higher roughness factor which had improved electrocatalytic activity compared with that of polycrystalline copper electrode.