The electrochemical response of preoxidized copper in aqueous sulfide solutions

The conversion of a Cu2O film on copper to Cu2S in aqueous sulfide solutions has been followed using a combination of electrochemical techniques and in situ Raman spectroscopy. Oxide films were electrochemically grown in alkaline solutions and their composition and morphology determined using Raman spectroscopy and scanning electron microscopy. Although corrosion potential measurements indicate that the aqueous sulfide solution rapidly penetrates the porous Cu2O layer, the oxide-to-sulfide reaction appears to proceed chemically at the oxide/solution interface rather than via the galvanic coupling of Cu oxidation to Cu2S and Cu2O reduction to Cu. In situ Raman spectroscopy confirms that the sulfide formed is Cu2S, and cathodic stripping voltammetry shows that the reaction is initially rapid and then proceeds at a constant rate until the conversion is complete. Comparison of the amounts of oxide initially present and sulfide eventually formed demonstrates that the conversion is 100% efficient. These studies are part of a larger project to determine the important corrosion processes on copper high-level nuclear waste containers exposed to anoxic aqueous sulfide containing groundwaters. (c) 2007 The Electrochemical Society.