CHARACTERIZATION OF SUPPORTED MIXED-OXIDE ELECTROCATALYSTS BY ION-BEAM TECHNIQUES

Injection and ejection of D+ and Li+ ions in thermally prepared Ir-Ti mixed oxide films have been followed by means of nuclear reaction analysis. Tests were carried out after the application of a potential that allows the maximum cation uptake and under conditions that correspond to the minimum cation uptake. Results were in good agreement with calculations based on the amount of charge exchanged by the electrodes in electrochemical experiments. Rutherford backscattering spectrometry has been used as a complementary method to study the composition profile. Interpretation of the results has been attempted in terms of local microstructural features.