Towards a Physical Description for the Origin of Enhanced Catalytic Activity of Corroding Magnesium Surfaces

The so-called “negative difference effect” (NDE) exhibited by corroding magnesium (Mg) surfaces, where the rate of hydrogen evolution increases with the extent of anodic polarization, has been well documented. Recently this behaviour has been explained by a theory involving an increase in the cathodic exchange current density that occurs during anodic polarization, rather than the popular theory involving the formation of a univalent Mg+ ion …