On the stated area, the total electric current is . The known ohmic polarization is . Applying the supplied anodic Tafel equation gives
Assume the quoted limiting current uses the same cathodic area convention. A steady diffusion-film model gives . The Nernst equation then makes the cathodic concentration overpotential magnitude
Relative to the local surface equilibrium potential, the cathode also needs an activation overpotential. Neglecting anodic concentration polarization, the separated-loss accounting is
To calculate that activation term, adopt a single effective two-electron Butler-Volmer equation with constant transfer coefficients satisfying , no anodic concentration polarization and reduction proportional to the surface concentration. The supplied anodic Tafel slope then determines the reverse slope through
With and cathodic overpotential referenced to bulk equilibrium,
Solving at gives , including both concentration and activation effects. Thus
The V concentration loss must not be added again. The kinetic assumption matters: the supplied slope is for copper oxidation, and an exchange current density alone does not specify every cathodic current-potential relation. A multistep copper reaction need not obey the effective single-step relation used for this estimate.
Tafel equation Created 2026-10-20 Updated 2026-10-20
An activation-controlled large-overpotential relation . The Tafel slope uses volts per decade when the logarithm is base ten. Exchange current density and operating current density must use the same area convention.