The effect of mechanical stress on the potential of the Ag/Ag+ electrode

Abstract

The effect of mechanical stress, σ, on electrode potential, E, was studied under zero current conditions. Silver wires in contact with AgNO₃ solutions were exposed to tensile stress and the variation of the potential was measured in a two-electrode cell. The change in the steady state, ΔE, was found to be proportional to σ whereas the time dependence, E(t), could be reasonably described by an exponential function. The ΔE s. σ functions were understood in terms of the electrostatics of the double layer enabling one to evaluate the stress dependence of the potential of zero charge, (∂E₀/∂σ) = 25.6 ± 1 μV MPa⁻¹; this experimental value is supported by a theoretical estimation.