FORMING AN OXIDE LAYER ON A FLAT CONDUCTIVE SURFACE

A method and apparatus for electrochemically forming an oxide layer on a flat conductive surface which involves positioning a working electrode bearing the flat conductive surface in opposed parallel spaced apart relation to a flat conductive surface of a counter electrode such that the flat conductive surface of the working electrode and the flat conductive surface of the counter electrode are generally opposed, horizontally oriented, and define a space therebetween. A volume of organic electrolyte solution containing chemicals for forming the oxide layer on the flat conductive surface of the working electrode is arranged to flood the flat conductive surface of the counter electrode surface and to occupy the space defined between the flat conductive surface of the working electrode and the flat conductive surface of the counter electrode such that at least the flat conductive surface of the counter electrode is in contact with the organic electrolyte solution and substantially only the flat conductive surface of the working electrode is in contact with the organic electrolyte solution. An electric current flows between substantially only the flat conductive surface of the counter electrode and substantially only the flat conductive surface of the working electrode, in the organic electrolyte solution, for a period of time and at a magnitude sufficient to cause the chemicals to form the oxide layer on the flat conductive surface of the working electrode. L'invention porte sur un procédé et un appareil de formation électrochimique d'une couche d'oxyde sur une surface conductrice plate, qui implique le positionnement d'une électrode de travail supportant la surface conductrice plate dans une relation espacée parallèle et opposée à une surface conductrice plate d'une contre-électrode, de sorte que la surface conductrice plate de l'électrode de travail et la surface conductrice plate de la contre-électrode soient généralement opposées, orientées horizontalement et définissent un espace entre celles-ci. Un volume d'une solution d'électrolyte organique contenant des produits chimiques pour former la couche d'oxyde sur la surface conductrice plate de l'électrode de travail est agencé pour inonder la surface conductrice plate de la surface de contre-électrode et pour occuper l'espace défini entre la surface conductrice plate de l'électrode de travail et la surface conductrice plate de la contre-électrode, de sorte qu'au moins la surface conductrice plate de la con