In Situ EC-AFM Observation on Pb Electrodes in Sulfuric Acid Solution with or without Lignin.

Surface morphologies of Pb electrodes in sulfuric acid solution with or without lignin at -20°C during anodic oxidation have been investigated by using in situ EC-AFM combined with cyclic voltammetry (CV). Whether the lignin is added or not in the solution, it was found at -20°C that the precipitation of lead sulfate crystals occurs immediately after supersaturation of dissolved Pb2+ ions at the anodic oxidation peak on CV. It was also found that the number of lead sulfate crystals formed on the Pb electrode after anodic oxidation decreases and the crystal size becomes larger when the lignin is added in the solution. © 2003 American Institute of Physics [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]