Influence of perfluorinated surfactants on the electrochemical behaviour of a lead electrode in sulfuric acid solution

The influence of various types of perfluorinated surfactants and their analogous hydrocarbon chain surfactants on the electrochemical behaviour of a lead electrode in sulfuric acid is studied by linear sweep voltammetry and cyclic voltammetry. The hydrogen evolution reaction is affected mainly by the type of the hydrophobic chain of the added surfactant (perfluorinated or hydrogenated). Nevertheless, these surfactants exert little expander acticn on the negative electrode, or even show an adverse effect on the discharge capacity of the lead electrode. A possible explanation is given in terms of the adsorption properties of different surfactants on the electrode surface during charge and discharge.