Redox driven stable isotope fractionation

Abstract

Electrochemical reduction/oxidation (redox) reactions have been observed to drive stable isotope fractionation in many metal systems, where the lighter isotopes of a metal are typically partitioned into the reduced chemical species. While physical processes such as diffusive mass transport lead to small isotope fractionations, charge transfer processes can lead to isotope fractionations up to ten times larger and twice that predicted by equilibrium stable isotope theory. Control over physical and chemical variables during electrochemical experiments, such as overpotential and temperature, allow for the isotopic composition of deposited metals to be fine tuned to a specific value. © 2011 Amer..