Mass transport and kinetic aspects of thionyl chloride reduction at the platinum microelectrode

The mass transport and electrochemical kinetic characteristics during the electrochemical reduction of thionyl chloride were investigated using a platinum microdisk electrode. Diffusion coefficients and standard rate constants were determined from fast scan cyclic voltammetric, chronoamperometric, and pulse voltammetric measurements. Activation energies of the diffusion process, as well as the electron transfer process, have also been determined. The results indicate that in 0.5 M LiAlCl4/SOCl2 solutions the activation energies are much higher than those obtained at higher concentrations.