everything.study
3.53

Electrochemical Processing of Materials

3-0-6 units · Graduate

Thermodynamic and transport properties of aqueous and nonaqueous electrolytes. The electrode/electrolyte interface. Kinetics of electrode processes. Electrochemical characterization: d.c. techniques (controlled potential, controlled current), a.c. techniques (voltametry and impedance spectroscopy). Applications: electrowinning, electrorefining, electroplating, and electrosynthesis, as well as electrochemical power sources (batteries and fuel cells).

Spring 2001

Topics

  • Thermodynamic and transport properties of electrolytes – aqueous and molten
  • Solution models: Debye-Hückel (aqueous), Temkin (molten salts)
  • Electrode potentials (the underlying physics, i.e., electron excess or electron deficiency on the electrode)
  • Emf series (aqueous and molten salts)
  • Reference electrodes (thermodynamics [establishing the voltage value] and kinetics [their iE characteristic])
  • (cont.)
  • Electrode-electrolyte interface, nature of the double layer
  • Kinetics of electrode processes, competition between processes involving mass transport and interfacial processes such as charge transfer at the electrode/electrolyte interface
  • Laboratory techniques to determine rate and mechanism: controlled E, controlled i, a.c. methods, i.e., a.c. voltammetry and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy, including underlying electrical engineering – construction of the equivalent circuit
  • Phasors and impedance plots in the complex plane – data interpretation for process optimization, on-line control
  • Stationary and rotating electrodes
  • Test 1
  • Winning, refining, plating, synthesis
  • Current efficiency, voltage efficiency, power efficiency, energy balances
  • Materials issues and environmental issues
  • Case studies on Hall cell electrolysis to produce aluminum and electrolytic production of magnesium by both the Dow process and the I.G. Farben process
  • Contemporary industrial practice – includes consideration of environmental issues
  • Batteries & fuel cells.
  • Test 2

Readings

  • Bard, A. J., and L. R. Faulkner. Electrochemical Methods . 2nd ed. New York: Wiley, 2000. ISBN: 9780471043720.
    Listed reading

Prerequisites & course information

Prereq: 3.044 G (Spring) Not offered regularly; consult department 3-0-6 units

Sources