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Second term
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Duration
Identical coursesElectrochemical Methods of Inorganic Chemistry (B-KUL-G0J65A)
Aims
The OPO is composed of 2 OLA's:
In OLA1 a basis of fundamental electrochemistry is provided: thermodynamics of an electrochemical reaction will be treated. Furthermore, the behaviour of mass-transport controlled reactions are discussed. An overview of important electrochemical techniques will be given in order to illustrate how electrochemical parameters of electrode reactions can be determined. The use of electrochemistry in the field of nanotechnology will be highlighted.
In OLA2 more in depth issues such as kinetically controlled reactions are treated. It is focussed as well on modern electrochemical applications, mainly in the field of inorganic chemistry, such as the electrodeposition of metals and electrocatalysis. Some important electro-analytical methods are discussed. In a last chapter the electrochemical principles of corrosion are treated briefly.
The aim of OLA1 is to provide a thorough basis of the fundamentals of electrode reactions. The students will have to be able to choose the most suitable electrochemical technique for any particular situation. It is important that the student knows how to tackle practically a fundamental experiment of an electrochemical problem and knows how to evaluate the outcome of such an analysis. Throughout OLA1 the combination of electrochemistry and nanotechnology will be treated. Both the use of electrochemical methods as a tool in nanotechnology and the emergence of nanotechnological tools in electrochemistry will be treated.
The aim of OLA2 is to treat some electrochemical issues more in depth. Furthermore, it will be focussed on practical applications of electrochemistry, with emphasis on electrodeposition of metals.
Previous knowledge
- This course requires a profound understanding of oxidation - reduction reactions in chemical systems such as is provided in in the bachelor course Fundamentals for chemistry (B-KUL-G0N01C, B-KUL-G0N01D, B-KUL-G0N01E)
- OLA2 cannot be choosen separately i.e. without following OLA1.
Is included in these courses of study
Activities
3 ects. Part 1: Fundamental Principles of Electrochemistry (B-KUL-G0U01a)
Content
Part I treats fundamental aspects of electrochemistry and typical electrochemical techniques. The combination of electrochemistry and nanotechnology is also treated in this part.
Part1 : Fundamental Principles of Electrochemistry
1. Redox reactions
1.1. Introduction
1.2. Thermodynamics of redox reactions
2. Reactions in absence of current
2.1. Validity of Nernst law
2.2. Potentiometry
3. Reactions in presence of current
3.1. Non-Faradaic current
3.2. Faradaic current
3.3. Reaction kinetics at an electrode surface
4. Mass-transfer controlled reactions
4.1. The Nernst-Planck equation
4.2. Semi-empirical treatment of mass-transfer controlled reactions
4.3. Diffusion controlled reactions
5. Electrochemical Methods
5.1. Linear sweep voltammetry and cyclic voltammetry
5.2. Square wave voltammetry
5.3. Chrono-amperometry
5.4. Methods based on the concept of impedance
5.5. Case studies
6. Electrodepositions
6.1. Introduction
6.2. The initial stages of electrodeposition
6.3. Copper coatings
7. Electrochemistry as a nanoscience
7.1. Characterization of the Electrode Surface on a nanoscale
7.2. Use of self-assembled monolayers (SAMs) in electrochemistry
Course material
A syllabus is available: 'Electrochemical Methods Part 2 : Electrochemical Applications'. Additionally,although not necessary, the book 'Industrial Electrochemistry' by Derrek Pletcher and Frank C. Walsh can be used.
The course will be available on Toledo at the start of the academic year. (Alternatively, it is distributed by some student organisations as well (e.g. Scientica)).
Format: more information
Is also included in other courses
3 ects. Part 2: Electrochemical Applications (B-KUL-G0U02a)
Content
Part2A treats some more complex fundamental topics. Part2B is devoted to modern applications of electrochemistry.
Part2A : Electrochemical kinetics
1. Kinetically controlled reactions
1.1. Kinetics of a homogeneous reaction
1.2. Kinetics of an electrochemical reaction
1.3. Microscopic approach of the kinetics of reactions with charge transfer
Part2B : Electrochemical applications
2. Metal coatings
2.1. Electrochemical depositions
2.2. Additives
2.3. Chemical depositions
3. Electrochemistry in ionic liquids
3.1. Introduction
3.2. The cell time constant
3.3. Voltammetry in media of low conductivity
3.4. Thin-layer electrochemistry
4. Electrocatalysis
4.1. General
4.2. Electrocatalytic reactions
5. Engineering
5.1. Conductivity of a solution
5.2. Cell potential
5.3. Current distribution
5.4. Efficiency
6. Analytical electrochemistry
6.1. Ion-selective electrodes
6.2. Coulometry
7. Corrosion resistance and corrosion protection
Course material
A syllabus is available: 'Electrochemical Methods Part 2 : Electrochemical Applications'. Additionally,although not necessary, the book 'Industrial Electrochemistry' by Derrek Pletcher and Frank C. Walsh can be used.
The course will be available on Toledo at the start of the academic year. (Alternatively, it is distributed by some student organisations as well (e.g. Scientica)).
Format: more information
The lessons in this OLA (part 2) are intended to provide a more in depth approach on fundamental issues and to treat applications in electrochemistry cfr. part 1 (G0U01a) where a general, fundamental knowledge of electrochemistry is provided.
Evaluation
Evaluation: Electrochemical Methods of Inorganic Chemistry (B-KUL-G2J65a)
Explanation
The theory course is examinated by means of an oral exam, with written preparation. The written preparation must be carried out rigorously as it is the only document that can be consulted in case of discussion of the exam result. The greater part of the quotation will be based on the written preparation. The oral questions are merely to verify if the questions were interpreted well, to give the student the opportunity to eventually correct a wrong answer, to adjust eventual incompletnesses or to give an even more in depth answer. The quotation in the oral part can only result in a minor correction of the quotation of the written preparation.
A typical exam consists of 5 questions that have to be answered briefly i.e. the most important aspects, keywords, consequences etc. of the interrogated subject must be explained without elaboration. Then, the student can choose one out of two main questions that has to be answered thoroughly and complete.
The examination does not deal exclusively with the content of the theory course, but also with other information given during the courses.
This course is tolerable.