Laboratory Experiments and Undergraduate Research Projects Incorporating Electroanalytical Techniques at Benedictine University

Freshman level undergraduate students often receive a superficial introduction to electrochemistry through topics such as redox reactions, oxidation states, electrolytes, and galvanic cells.  Given this level of exposure to electrochemistry, it is often difficult to appreciate the relevance of electroanalytical chemistry to modern society.  Unlike analytical chemistry techniques involving spectroscopy and chromatography, electroanalytical chemistry, specifically modern electrochemical techniques such as voltammetry and amperometry, are underrepresented in most undergraduate chemistry laboratory course curricula.  With the increasing popularity of chemical sensors, biosensors and nanotechnology, electroanalytical detection methods are becoming more commonplace in research laboratories and chemical industry.  In addition to the sensitivity the techniques mentioned offer, voltammetry is often used in characterization of nanomaterials, other redox active species and transducers.  Moreover, electroanalytical methods offer an attractive alternative compared to other analytical methods due to portability, low cost and ease of use of the equipment.  This talk will address the teaching of modern electroanalytical methods and their common applications at the sophomore and senior-level lecture and laboratory courses at a PUI, specifically Benedictine University.  Several of the laboratory experiments and some undergraduate research projects which utilize cyclic voltammetry, linear sweep voltammetry, and amperometry will also be discussed.