An electrochemical reaction cell using a solid electrolyte was developed to study the thermodynamic and kinetic behavior of interfacial oxides. Al₂O₃ and TiO₂ existing between the Fe alloy melt and the magnesia stabilized zirconia solid electrolyte could be controlled using an electrochemical method of an external direct current at 1823 K. This novel approach could control the electron density near the interface of the oxides and subsequently the interfacial oxygen.
In this study, a direct current of 0.1 ampere resulted in the decomposition of the interfacial oxides and an interfacial oxygen concentration below 3 ppm. Furthermore, morphological observations using EPMA confirmed the interfacial oxide control corresponding to the external electrical potential.