Effect of direct current electric field intensity and electrolyte layer thickness on oxygen reduction in simulated atmospheric environment

Abstract The effect of direct current (DC) electric field and electrolyte layer thickness on oxygen reduction in simulated atmospheric environment were investigated using electrochemical measurements. The results show that the limiting diffusion current density ( i lim ) decreases with increasing the thin electrolyte layers (TELs) thickness but it increases with increasing the DC electric field intensity. The potential shifts negatively with the DC electric field. It is found that the DC electric field enables OH − ions to quickly migrate from the solution/electrode interface to the electrolyte layer. All these features promote the cathodic reduction process thereby enhancing the metal corrosion rate.