Related Experiment Video
Updated: Feb 2, 2026

Electrochemical Roughening of Thin-Film Platinum Macro and Microelectrodes
Published on: June 30, 2019
Effective removal of mercury from aqueous streams via electrochemical alloy formation on platinum
Cristian Tunsu1, Björn Wickman2
1Department of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Nuclear Chemistry and Industrial Materials Recycling, Chalmers University of Technology, 41296, Göteborg, Sweden.
Abstract:
Retrieval of mercury from aqueous streams has significant environmental and societal importance due to its very high toxicity and mobility. We present here a method to retrieve mercury from aqueous feeds via electrochemical alloy formation on thin platinum films. This application is a green and effective alternative to traditional chemical decontamination techniques. Under applied potential, mercury ions in solution form a stable PtHg4 alloy with platinum on the cathode. A 100 nanometres platinum film was fully converted to a 750 nanometres thick layer of PtHg4. The overall removal capacity is very high, > 88 g mercury per cm3. The electrodes can easily be regenerated after use. Efficient and selective decontamination is possible in a wide pH range, allowing processing of industrial, municipal, and natural waters. The method is suited for both high and low concentrations of mercury and can reduce mercury levels far below the limits allowed in drinking water.
Related Concept Videos
Solution Formation
This selective...
What is an Electrochemical Gradient?
The chemical gradient relies on differences in the abundance of a substance on the outside versus the inside of a cell and flows from areas of high to low ion concentration. In contrast, the electrical gradient revolves around an...
Stream Function
Chemical Reactions in Aqueous Solutions
Aqueous Solutions and Heats of Hydration
When ionic compounds dissolve in water, the ions in the solid separate and disperse uniformly throughout the solution because water molecules surround and solvate the ions, reducing the strong electrostatic forces between them. This process...
Standard Enthalpy of Formation

