CURRENT OSCILLATIONS IN THE ANODIC-DISSOLUTION OF SILICON IN FLUORIDE ELECTROLYTES

The oscillations of the current which take place during the anodic dissolution of silicon in fluoride electrolytes have been investigated. These oscillations occur only upon a perturbation in the electrode potential, and are associated with a fluctuation of the thickness of an oxide layer on the electrode surface. In the corresponding potential range, the experimental data strongly support the picture of a surface consisting of a juxtaposition of small self-oscillating areas. These areas are decorrelated from each other in the steady state, but are synchronized by a potential perturbation, giving rise to macroscopic oscillations.