This course covers the basic theory and application of electrochemical science. It is targeted toward people with a physical sciences or engineering background who have not been trained as electrochemists, but who want to add electrochemical methods to their repertoire of research approaches. There are many fields in which researchers originally approach their work from another discipline but then discover that it would be advantageous to understand and use some electrochemical methods to complement the work that they are doing.

The course begins with a general, basic foundation of electrochemistry and uses it to develop the theory and experimental approaches to electrochemical problems of a thermodynamic nature. It complements a sister course, “Fundamentals of Electrochemistry: Basic Theory and Kinetic Methods”, offered alternately by the same instructor. The two courses have different emphasis, and each is designed to be a stand-alone introduction to electrochemical fundamentals. If both courses are desired, they can be taken in either order.

Course outline

• Introduction and Overview of Electrode Processes
• Chemical vs. Electrochemical Thermodynamics
  • reference electrodes, standard potentials, cell potentials, Nernst equation, electrode-solution interface, and double-layer structure
  • ion-selective electrodes, applications in analytical electrochemistry and sensors, aqueous and non-aqueous systems
• Chemical Stoichiometry vs. Faraday’s Law
  • coulometry, bulk electrolysis
• Theoretical Basis for Methods
  • surface tension, adsorption and adsorption isotherms, electrocapillarity, potential of zero charge, Lippmann equation
• Methodology
  • potentiometry, differential capacity, coulometry, cyclic voltammetry, polarography
• Electrochemical Instrumentation
  • voltmeters, ammeters, potentiostats, galvanostats, design of electrochemical cells
• Coupled Characterization Methods (time permitting)
  • modified electrodes, spectroelectrochemistry, in-situ neutron scattering, surface analysis, etc.