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Russian Journal of Electrochemistry, Vol. 40, No. 7, 2004, pp. 778–779. Translated from Elektrokhimiya, Vol. 40, No. 7, 2004, pp. 891–892.Original Russian Text Copyright © 2004 by Polukarov, Kudryavtsev, Davydov, Petrii.

This year we celebrate the centenary of a Russianscientist, Kseniya Mikhailovna Gorbunova (1904–1990, formerly doctor of chemistry, professor).

Gorbunova was born on August 16, 1904 in Kislo-vodsk. She had worked since 1920, first as an instructoron collecting plants for medicine and industry at theCentral Pharmacological Factory of the Taganrog Dis-trict. Since 1922 to 1927, she studied at the LeningradPolytechnical Institute, after which she was taken as aprobationer at the Electrometallurgy Department of theInstitute of Metals. In 1930, she entered a post-graduatecourse under supervision of academician V.A. Kistyak-ovskii in his freshly organized Laboratory of Colloidsand Electrochemistry and simultaneously became Headof the Electrocrystallization Group. This direction laterbecame the main subject of her further scientific carrier.Her doctoral dissertation “Electrocrystallization ofMetals” was already prepared by 1936. She defended

her dissertation at a Scientific Council, opposed by Pro-fessor I. Stranski, Director of the Max Plank Institute(Berlin), the outstanding scientist of that time in thefield of crystal growth theory.

As a doctor of chemistry, Gorbunova substantiallyextended the sphere of her scientific interests. Carryingon fundamental studies in the field of metal electrocrys-tallization, she also conducted research into complexphysicochemical processes at the metal/solution andmetal (semiconductor)/gas interfaces in order to revealmechanisms of the new phase formation under thesespecific conditions. She quickly became the mostprominent and recognized authority in the field of phys-icochemical processes of electrochemical nucleationand crystal growth. In cooperation with P.D. Dankov,she developed a crystallochemical theory of growth ofindividual crystals, whiskers, and dendrites and elabo-rated original methods for studying the crystal growth,including interferometry of multiple reflection fromfaces of growing crystals. In 1939, Gorbunova wasappointed a professor.

Studying fundamental problems of electrocrystalli-zation, Gorbunova always tried to relate electrochemi-cal conditions of electrodeposition of metals and alloysto the morphology and physical properties of depos-its—the aspects important for applied electroplating.As a rule fundamental laboratory studies were gener-ated by new demands of industry. One example is thephenomenon of brightening upon introduction of 2-6,2-7 disulfonenaphthalic acid to nickel-plating baths,which was discovered in the 1940s by ProfessorN.T. Kudryavtsev and could not have been explained interms of electrochemical thermodynamics and kinetics.The electron microscopy and electron diffraction stud-ies carried out by Gorbunova showed that the surface ofthe electrolytic deposits formed in the presence ofbrightening agents was covered by a phase film ofnickel hydroxides. This allowed her to advance ahypothesis which explained the unusual and that farunknown morphology of electrodeposits grown in thepresence of brightening agents, viz., the reduction ofnickel hydroxides and its poorly soluble compounds.The crystals formed in the process lacked clear-cutfaces, and the surface of the electrodeposits thusobtained looked smoothed-out even at high magnifica-tion, while seemingly crystalline according to the x-raydata. Kseniya Mikhailovna named them “cryptocrystal-

In Commemoration of Kseniya Mikhailovna Gorbunova’s Centenary

(1904–1990)

CHRONICLE

RUSSIAN JOURNAL OF ELECTROCHEMISTRY

Vol. 40

No. 7

2004

IN COMMEMORATION OF KSENIYA MIKHAILOVNA GORBUNOVA’S CENTENARY 779

line” deposits. This gave rise to a new scientific direc-tion—an electrochemical reduction of poorly solublecompounds.

Since the beginning of the 1950s, the laboratorystaged experiments on chemical catalysis of the reduc-tion of nickel and cobalt ions by hypophosphite, boro-hydride, or dimethylaminoborane, which were of greatimportance for the air-space, electronic, and medicineindustries. To optimize these processes, Gorbunova car-ried out electrochemical and mass-spectrometric stud-ies of the mechanism of hydrolysis of hypophosphiteand borohydride and its derivatives, which led to thedevelopment of some new technological processes.These studies were generalized in two books and quitea number of papers.

The problem of interaction of active gas media withmetals and semiconductors and the effect of gas mediaon electrophysical properties of semiconductors occu-pied the important place in Gorbunova’s studies. Shetook part in the development of new methods for pro-cessing of germanium and silicon surfaces, whichrefined characteristics of semiconductor-based devices.The precision gravimetric technique for studying theoxidation kinetics of metals and semiconductors, devel-oped in the Laboratory, made it possible to formulate amicroscopic theory of metal oxidation, which took intoaccount partial vaporization of volatile oxides.

Kseniya Mikhailovna actively participated in manyRussian and international conferences, where she deliv-

ered many plenary lectures and reports. She was mem-ber of the International Society of Electrochemistry,Scientific Council on Electrochemistry of the Academyof Sciences of the USSR, and an active member of theScientific Council of the Institute. Her deep and wittycomments, pointed remarks on fundamental problemsalways roused admiration of the audience.

Having exceptional pedagogical talent, KseniyaMikhailovna spent much effort in training young scien-tists. For 20 years, she read Physical Chemistry at theMoscow Institute of Geological Prospecting. Many ofthose who work at the Institute of Physical Chemistryof the Russian Academy of Sciences still remember herinteresting lectures full of advanced information, whichshe read for colleagues and post-graduate students.Numerous pupils of Gorbunova are now candidates anddoctors of science and work at research institutes, uni-versities, and industrial associations both in Russia andabroad.

The scientific achievements of K.M. Gorbunovawere highly merited. She was awarded two Orders ofRed Banner of Labor and several medals and given thetitle of Honored Scientist and Engineer of the RussianFederation.

Yu.M. PolukarovV.N. Kudryavtsev

A.D. DavydovO.A. Petrii