mørkelektrode

A mørkelektrode, or dark electrode, is a concept primarily found in the context of early photochemistry and electrochemistry research. It refers to an electrode that, when part of an electrochemical cell, does not undergo a measurable electrochemical reaction or show significant current flow when exposed to light. This is in contrast to a photoelectrode, which is designed to be photoactive and participate in redox reactions upon illumination.

The term emerged when researchers were investigating the photoelectric effect and the behavior of different materials in electrochemical environments. If an electrode was made of a material that was not a semiconductor or did not possess suitable electronic band structures for light absorption and subsequent charge transfer, it would behave as a mørkelektrode. It would essentially act as a passive conductor, allowing the electrochemical reactions to occur on its surface due to the presence of other electroactive species in the electrolyte, but not contributing directly to or being initiated by the light stimulus.

In simpler terms, a mørkelektrode is an electrode that remains "dark" or inactive in an electrochemical context when light is applied, meaning it doesn't generate or consume electrons in response to photons. Understanding the behavior of mørkelektroder was crucial for distinguishing between true photoelectrochemical phenomena and other concurrent processes occurring within an electrochemical cell. It provided a baseline for comparison when studying materials that *were* designed to be photoactive.

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