RECTIFICATION BY ANODIC OXIDE-FILMS ON ZIRCONIUM

The electrical conduction characteristics of anodic oxide films on zirconium were studied using evaporated metal and aqueous electrolyte contacts. All the films tested showed electrolyte rectification. In the dry systems rectification was not observed, but asymmetry in conduction was pronounced in the case of films grown in the nitric acid solution. Capacitance measurements under an applied d-c bias provided no positive evidence for the presence of a p-n junction either in the bulk oxide or at the oxide-electrolyte boundary.