Effect of the electric field on the oxide layer structure and the product composition in the reaction of zinc with supercritical fluid H2O/CO2

Abstract

The presence of a constant electric field (300 kV m–1) and variation of CO₂ concentration in the fluid affected the morphology of ZnO nanocrystals and the internal structure of ZnO layer obtained on interacting zinc anode with supercritical H₂O/CO₂ at 673 K and 35 MPa. The electric field favors the formation of zinc oxalate and carbonate, the thermal decomposition of which forms the pore structured of ZnO. Moreover, a fraction of elongated nanocrystals in the surface layer of ZnO is increased due to the action of the electric field.