Studies on the Interaction of Alkyl Thiophosphinate with Precious Metals

摘要

Adsorption mechanisms of diisobutyl dithiophosphinate (DIBDTPI) and diisobutyl monothiophosphinate (DIBMTPI) on gold and gold-silver alloys (80:20 and 50:50) have been studied. The adsorption mechanisms on gold-silver alloys can be explained by the EC mechanism involving an electron transfer step and a chemical reaction step. Thus, the adsorption should be controlled by the E of the electrochemical oxidation of the electrode involved and the pK of the metal collector complex. Both di- and mono- thiophosphinate adsorb on 50:50 Au-Ag alloy at lower potential than on 80:20 Au-Ag alloy surface. There are no significant differences between the reactivities of DIBDTPI and DIBMTPI with precious metals except that the dithio- compound can be oxidized to dimer on gold at high potentials, while the monothio- homologue cannot. In this regard, DIBDTPI may be a better surface active reagent for pure gold than DIBMTPI.