Electrochemistry

Goals
Students will face with thermodynamics and kinetics aspects of electrochemistry, discussing both theoretical and application-oriented phenomena in connection with electrolytic solutions and new electrode materials; with semiconductors; with ionic exchange membranes. Advanced electrolytic processes for energy conversion and environmental treatments will be also presented and discussed.


acquired skills
Comprehension of half-cell and cell potentials and of parameters affecting the overpotentials. Ability to handle physico-chemical quantities and Nernst's equation to calculate half-cell potential. Knowledge of Debye-Huckel limiting law and connected parameters. Application of Butler Volmer and Tafel equations. Usage of semiconductors as electrodes in photovoltaic cells. Definition and discussion of energy conversion phenomena and membrane processes, with figures of merit.



Course content
Recall of fundamental concepts of electrochemistry. Volta, surface and Galvani potentials. Nernst equation. Electric double layer: fundamentals and applications. Debye-Huckel equation: theory and applications. Thermodynamic of interfaces: electrocapillary curves. Models of the electric double layer: Helmholtz, Guy-Chapman and Stern, and double layer capacity. Kinetics of electrochemistry: Butler-Volmer and Tafel equations. Exchange current density and transfer coefficient. Definition of the limiting current density. Semiconductor electrodes. Photoelectrochemistry. Advanced system for energy conversion. Electrochemical membrane processes. Pourbaix diagrams.

Laboratory training
Energy conversion: water electrolysis and fuel cell. Copper electrodeposition. Electro-electrodialysis process to regenerate sodium sulphate solution to produce acidic and alkaline solutions.


Suggested prerequisites
Mathematics, Physics, Physical chemistry I with laboratory. Physical chemistry II with laboratory.

Reference material
Power point presentation of the lecture will be upload on ARIEL web site.
Recommended texts:
· J.O.M. Bockris, A.K.N. Reddy "Modern Electrochemistry - 2A" Kluwer Academic Publishers;
· M. A. Brett and A. M. Oliveira Brett, "ELECTROCHEMISTRY: Principles, Methods, and Applications" Oxford University Press.
· Allen J. Bard, Larry R. Faulkner; "ELECTROCHEMICAL METHODS: Fundamentals and Applications" - Wiley and Sons INC, New York.


Prerequisites
Physical chemistry I and II must be already attended


Assessment method
Oral. Student must be able to handle and discuss equations and phenomena presented during lectures. In this context, also the ability of drawing and commenting relevant graphics presented during lectures will be evaluated. Student will be asked to face some mathematical exercises and problems, connected with kinetics and thermodynamics of electrochemistry. Students will be asked to present and discuss the results obtained during laboratory training.

Language of instruction
Italian

Attendance Policy
Students are warmly asked to attend the lessons
Students must attend the laboratory

Mode of teaching
Traditional

Website
http://ariel.unimi.it/