Anodic behaviour of manganese germanide Mn5Ge3 in a sodium sulphate aqueous solution

Abstract

Germanides are an interesting class of two-component systems which consist of metal and germanium. They are similar in their structure with silicides but have the specific properties. The target of the investigation was finding the main anodic electrochemical behaviour mechanisms for magnesium germanide Mn5Ge3 in an Na2SO4 aqueous solution. Electrochemical behaviour of manganese germanide obtained by Czochralski method was investigated by polarization curves and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy methods and accomplished by microscopy data. Individual manganese and germanium were investigated in the same way for comparison. It was established that in the anodic oxidation process germanium is the potential-determining component. The passivation process associated with the formation of surface oxide films was accomplished by the current density oscillations appearing due to the bad adhesion of oxide film to the surface of the sample, its imperfection and discontinuity. The nature of oxide film formed in the polarization process was partially established. The dependence of the anodic behaviour of the sample on the sulphate concentration was established: in the diluted solutions the passivation occurs at more positive potentials than in the concentrated. This phenomenon can be explained by the different mechanisms of anodic oxidation in the solutions of different concentrations.

Keywords

• manganese
• germanium
• manganese germanide
• oxide films
• anodic oxidation
• impedance spectroscopy