Operando kinetics of hydrogen evolution and elemental dissolution I: The dissolution of galvanized steel in hydrochloric acid
Abstract
A new approach to the simultaneous measurement of the hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) and elemental dissolution rates is presented and applied to the reaction of galvanized steel coatings with HCl solution. Dissolution profiles revealed several kinetic regimes including the dissolution of the intact coating, the dissolution of the nanometric Fe 2 Al 5 intermetallic layer, and the corrosion of the steel substrate. The HER and Zn dissolution rates were in excellent agreement, and the quantities of interfacial Fe and Al were consistent with the predicted 50 nm thick Fe 2 Al 5 intermetallic film, demonstrating the analytical capabilities of the atomic emission spectroelectrochemistry (AESEC) technique.