ELECTROCHEMISTRY

Course objectives

In accordance to the first two Dublin descriptors, at the end of the course the student will have the knowledge of the following five points: a) the mechanisms at the basis of electrical conduction in the different types of materials (ionic, electronic and mixed conductors) and the factors that control this phenomenon; b) the phenomena that originate the electrochemical double layer; c) the thermodynamics and the working principle of the electrochemical devices d) kinetic factors that control the passage of electrical current in an electrochemical device; e) electrochemical analysis of the phenomena of corrosion The student will use the concepts grasped during the course of electrochemistry to realize electrochemical experiments for fundamental studies or for routine research. The course has also the finality of developing the communication skills of the student (fourth Dublin descriptor). This is realized through questions during classes and in the final exam.

Channel 1
DANILO DINI Lecturers' profile

Program - Frequency - Exams

Course program
FOUNDATIONS AND DEFINITIONS Ions, electrolytes and quantization of charge. Transition from electronic to ionic conductivity in an electrochemical cell. Electrolysis cells and galvanic cells. Faraday’s laws. Systems of units. ELECTRICAL CONDUCTIVITY AND INTERACTIONS BETWEEN IONS Fundamentals; empirical laws of electrolyte conductivity. Ionic mobility and Hittorf transport. The Debye-Hueckel-Onsager theory of conductivity. Properties of weak electrolytes. The concept of activity from the electrochemical viewpoint. ELECTRODE POTENTIALS AND DOUBLE-LAYER STRUCTURE Electrode potential; overvoltage. EMF and maximum useful energy from electrochemical reactions. Reference electrodes; electrochemical series; electrocapillary effect. PZC. Double layer models according to Helmholtz, Gouy-Chapman and Stern. ORIGIN OF ELECTRICAL CURRENT Charge flux and overpotential; e-transfer and the activated complex model. Butler-Volmer equation and its approximations (high field, or low field). Concentration overvoltages and other potential drops in a cell. Diffusion: trasnsient, steady-state, planar, spherical., microelectrodes. Adsorption phenomena, surface diffusion, electrocrystallization. GALVANIC CELLS AND INDUSTRIAL APPLICATIONS Fundamentals; electrolysis, separators, membranes. Electrosynthesis and electrocatalysis. Metal and semiconductor electrodeposition (nano-structures as well). Water treatment, electrophoresis, electrodialysis. Batteries and accumulators (examples); fuel cells and applications. CORROSION Thermodynamics: Pourbaix diagrams. Electrochemical kinetics of corrosion. Examples.
Prerequisites
Knowledge of general chemistry, physical chemistry, mathematics and physics of the electromagnetic fields
Books
ELECTROCHEMISTRY (2nd Edition) by Hamann, Hamnett e Vielstich-Wiley VCH (531 pages)
Teaching mode
The course of Electrochemistry is taught through the explanation of the various topics presented in PowerPoint slides
Frequency
The course of Electrochemistry is offered within one semester. The frequency is two lessons per week. Every lesson has a duration of two hours.
Exam mode
The student is evaluated through a written exam. The exam consists in the explanation of the concepts presented during the course. In doing so, the student uses only pen and paper. The exam lasts 3 hours and half. The number of questions is three. It is strictly forbidden the use of computer, laptop, textbooks, smartphones, notes and slides of the course. The student has to indicate his/her name on each sheet of the test.
Bibliography
Review and research articles about specific topics of the course. The articles are chosen among those having a prevailingly didactic character
Lesson mode
The course of Electrochemistry is taught through the explanation of the various topics presented in PowerPoint slides
DANILO DINI Lecturers' profile

Program - Frequency - Exams

Course program
FOUNDATIONS AND DEFINITIONS Ions, electrolytes and quantization of charge. Transition from electronic to ionic conductivity in an electrochemical cell. Electrolysis cells and galvanic cells. Faraday’s laws. Systems of units. ELECTRICAL CONDUCTIVITY AND INTERACTIONS BETWEEN IONS Fundamentals; empirical laws of electrolyte conductivity. Ionic mobility and Hittorf transport. The Debye-Hueckel-Onsager theory of conductivity. Properties of weak electrolytes. The concept of activity from the electrochemical viewpoint. ELECTRODE POTENTIALS AND DOUBLE-LAYER STRUCTURE Electrode potential; overvoltage. EMF and maximum useful energy from electrochemical reactions. Reference electrodes; electrochemical series; electrocapillary effect. PZC. Double layer models according to Helmholtz, Gouy-Chapman and Stern. ORIGIN OF ELECTRICAL CURRENT Charge flux and overpotential; e-transfer and the activated complex model. Butler-Volmer equation and its approximations (high field, or low field). Concentration overvoltages and other potential drops in a cell. Diffusion: trasnsient, steady-state, planar, spherical., microelectrodes. Adsorption phenomena, surface diffusion, electrocrystallization. GALVANIC CELLS AND INDUSTRIAL APPLICATIONS Fundamentals; electrolysis, separators, membranes. Electrosynthesis and electrocatalysis. Metal and semiconductor electrodeposition (nano-structures as well). Water treatment, electrophoresis, electrodialysis. Batteries and accumulators (examples); fuel cells and applications. CORROSION Thermodynamics: Pourbaix diagrams. Electrochemical kinetics of corrosion. Examples.
Prerequisites
Knowledge of general chemistry, physical chemistry, mathematics and physics of the electromagnetic fields
Books
ELECTROCHEMISTRY (2nd Edition) by Hamann, Hamnett e Vielstich-Wiley VCH (531 pages)
Teaching mode
The course of Electrochemistry is taught through the explanation of the various topics presented in PowerPoint slides
Frequency
The course of Electrochemistry is offered within one semester. The frequency is two lessons per week. Every lesson has a duration of two hours.
Exam mode
The student is evaluated through a written exam. The exam consists in the explanation of the concepts presented during the course. In doing so, the student uses only pen and paper. The exam lasts 3 hours and half. The number of questions is three. It is strictly forbidden the use of computer, laptop, textbooks, smartphones, notes and slides of the course. The student has to indicate his/her name on each sheet of the test.
Bibliography
Review and research articles about specific topics of the course. The articles are chosen among those having a prevailingly didactic character
Lesson mode
The course of Electrochemistry is taught through the explanation of the various topics presented in PowerPoint slides
  • Lesson code1022360
  • Academic year2024/2025
  • CourseChemistry
  • CurriculumChimica Organica e Biomolecolare
  • Year2nd year
  • Semester1st semester
  • SSDCHIM/02
  • CFU6
  • Subject areaDiscipline chimiche inorganiche e chimico-fisiche