The metal–solution interface

This article reviews our present understanding of the metal–solution interface, drawing comparisons between it and the metal–gas interface. The chief difference between these two systems is the solvent, which has a profound effect on the physics and chemistry of the interface. The solvent is never entirely inert, and if polar, as water is, will adsorb on the metal surface and stabilise ions in solution. However, the presence of ions in solution allows a current to be passed between two electrodes inserted in the solution, and one of these electrodes can be the metal under investigation. This is the field of electrochemistry, and much of our knowledge of the metal–solution interface is derived from electrochemical measurements. Complementary information is gained from many of the techniques used to study the metal–gas interface. The first type of electrochemical system to be considered is one in which the application of a potential across the interface does not lead to charge transfer. Such a system behaves as a capacitance due to the formation of a complex double layer. The effects of various types of adsorption is then described. The deposition of metals on the electrode surface is next considered, and this is followed by a discussion of the reverse metal dissolution reaction. The final section concerns the formation of films on the metal surface, a reaction which has its parallel in metal–gas reactions.