Characterisation of the Deposition of n-Octanohydroxamate on Copper Surfaces

The interaction of the flotation reagent, n-octanohydroxamate, with a copper electrode was investigated using cyclic voltammetry, contact angles, surface-enhanced Raman scattering, neutron reflectometry and X-ray reflectometry. The data demonstrated that hydroxamate did not undergo underpotential chemisorption. A hydrophobic non-passivating multilayer of copper n-octanohydroximate formed in the Cu-II stability region that was more stable than the oxide formed in the absence of hydroxamate. In the Cu-I and Cu-0 stability regions the interface contained more than 50% water and the hydroxamate moiety was present in the keto tautomeric form.