Moïse Haïssinsky: The discoverer of underpotential deposition

Abstract

Underpotential deposition (upd) is a highly important topic within electrochemistry. Its discovery and early development are tightly connected with the rise of radiochemistry at the beginning of the last century and the nuclear weapon and atomic energy programs during and after World War II. Only later it reached fundamental electrochemistry in civil research institutes. Moïse Haïssinsky played a key role in discovering upd, when he worked at “L'Institut du Radium” in Paris, starting under the directorship of Marie Skłodowska-Curie. Among all of the scientists who have to be named in a history of upd, Moïse Haïssinsky is the least well known, because his research was later almost entirely in the field of radiochemistry. In this paper, he is remembered for his contributions to electrochemistry and his life is described in more detail.