To elucidate the mechanism of NaNO2-promoted Pt dissolution,
the weight loss of Pt black-deposited Au quartz resonators was measured
in 0.1 mol dm–3 HClO4 containing NaNO2 under potential cycling and constant potential conditions.
A continuous weight loss of ca. 50–60 ng cm–2 cycle–1 was detected in the presence of 10 mmol
dm–3 NaNO2 during potential cycling above
a high potential limit of 1.2 V vs RHE (VRHE) and below
a low potential limit (E
L) of 0.9 VRHE. A weight loss was observed at constant potentials (0.6–0.8
VRHE) when oxides were initially present; the net weight
loss (Δw) magnitude increased as the amount
of the initially formed Pt oxide increased. These results indicate
that Pt dissolution occurred when Pt oxides were reduced in the presence
of NaNO2. The good agreement between the Δw per potential cycle and the Δw at
a constant potential (E
L of the potential
cycling = constant potential) revealed that the formation of Pt oxides
in the positive sweep was required for the continuous weight loss
under potential cycling. The Δw value increased
for higher concentrations of NaNO2 under both conditions.
The products of NaNO2 reduction were thought to participate
in Pt dissolution.