At 03:32 PM 1/4/2011 -0500, you wrote:
Hi there,
I'm new, and have a conceptual question regarding the LVDC 'constant
current' method of CS synthesis.
When running a batch at a constant current, the voltage steadily decreases
and the electrical conductivity of the solution increases (at a slower and
slower rate) over time.
## It increases at a constant rate with a constant current..up to the
saturation point.
Past the saturation point the silver entering the water remains at a
constant rate, but is forced into non conductive particulate forms... a
process that takes more time than the production of the ions that make
those particles...so..while it appears that conductivity rise is slowing,
no silver emission rates have changed and the solution can remain
oversaturated for quite some time
Once the rate of change of the electrical conductivity remains relatively
consistent, I understand that the Ag ion concentration (in solution) has
reached a saturation point.
## Right
What happens next ... ? Does continued electrolysis begin oxidizing ions
out of solution, some depositing on the electrodes and presumably some
neutral particles remain in a colloidal state?
Is the process finished once this saturation point is reached? Or does
continued electrolysis convert a percentage of the ionic Ag solution into
colloidal Ag particles?
## It's not the electrolysis that oxidixes [or otherise reacts] ions,
but the over saturation making the ions need to find something to react
with so they can crystalize out of solution...and they will use whatever
is around to use... like contaminants in the water or gasses in the air
or dissolved in the water producing a variety of silver compounds...or
electrons on *liquid to surface* interfaces to make *pure metallic*
silver colloids.
Glass, with it's metallic components, makes a pretty decent capacitive
surface to collect electrons on, induced by electromagnetic radiation....
like a crappy solar cell.
If the ion in the water is not moving fast enough to pick up that electron
and carry it away from the surface of the glass, you get a mirror rather
than suspended metallic colloidal particles. [Plate out]
Ode
Thanks in advance for any clarification,
Shane
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