Electrochemical study concerning the deposition of copper on selenium covered gold electrodes

Voltammetry, chronoamperometry and anodic stripping voltammetry were used to study the processes involved in the electrodeposition of copper on polycrystalline gold electrodes previously covered with selenium layers. Through the analysis of the I–t transients it was possible to establish the potential edge where the initial stages of copper–selenium compounds starts. Taking into account the charges involved in the redissolution of deposits obtained by stepping the potential in a narrow interval, a general reaction scheme that considers the formation of CuSe and Cu2−xSe compounds is proposed.