Introduction to Electrochemical Science and Engineering

Serguei N. Lvov

• Publisher: CRC Press
• Year: 2021
• Print ISBN:
  9781138196780
• eBook ISBN:
  9781315296838
• Topic: Technology & Engineering
• Subtopic: Energy
• Index: Technology & Engineering

The Second Edition of Introduction to Electrochemical Science and Engineering outlines the basic principles and techniques used in the development of electrochemical engineering related technologies, such as fuel cells, electrolyzers, and flow-batteries. Covering topics from electrolyte solutions to electrochemical energy conversion systems and corrosion, this revised and expanded edition provides new educational material to help readers familiarize themselves with some of today's most useful electrochemical concepts. The Second Edition includes a new Appendix C with a detailed description of how the most common electrochemical laboratories can be organized, what data should be collected, and how the data should be treated and presented in a report. Video demonstrations for these laboratories are available on YouTube. In addition, the author has added conceptual and numerical exercises to all of the chapters to help with the understanding of the book material and to extend the important aspects of the electrochemical science and engineering. Finally, electrochemical impedance spectroscopy is now used in most electrochemical laboratories, and so a new section briefly describes this technique in Chapter 7.

This new edition

• Ensures readers have a fundamental knowledge of the core concepts of electrochemical science and engineering, such as electrochemical cells, electrolytic conductivity, electrode potential, and current–potential relations related to a variety of electrochemical systems
• Develops the initial skills needed to understand an electrochemical experiment and successfully evaluate experimental data without visiting a laboratory
• Promotes an appreciation of the capabilities and applications of key electrochemical techniques
• Features eight lab descriptions and instructions that can be used to develop the labs by instructors for a university electrochemical engineering class
• Integrates eight online videos with lab demonstrations to advise instructors and students on how the labs can be carried out
• Features a solutions manual for adopting instructors

The Second Edition is an ideal and unique text for undergraduate engineering and science students and readers in need of introductory-level content. Graduate students and engineers looking for a quick introduction to the subject will benefit from the simple structure of this book. Instructors interested in teaching the subject to undergraduate students can immediately use this book without reservation.

1 Electrolyte Solutions

DOI: 10.1201/b21893-1

1.1 Objectives

The main objective of this chapter is to introduce the reader to physical chemistry of electrolyte solutions. An electrolyte solution consists of charged species (ions) that make these solutions very useful for electrochemical science and engineering. Concentrations, activities, activity coefficients, and chemical potentials of both solute and solvent are described in detail. The concentration of species in weak electrolytes and pH of aqueous solutions are discussed, and the physical chemistry of buffer solutions is explained.

1.2 Formation of Electrolyte Solutions

In a dissolution process, heat is consumed or released depending on the internal energy of the crystal or molecule and the energy of solvation (hydration in the case of water as a solvent). Some substances (solutes), forming electrolyte solutions, release heat (e.g., CaCl₂(s), HCl(l)) and others can consume heat (e.g., KCl(s), KNO₃(s)) when dissolving. Figure 1.1 illustrates how a KCl(aq) solution is created due to interactions between water molecules and KCl(s), a solid salt, which is completely dissociated: KCl(s) → K⁺(aq) + Cl⁻(aq). There are only two species (ions) in the solution, and the concentration of K⁺(aq) and Cl⁻(aq) is the same as that of KCl(aq). It is important to note that this process goes only one way at ambient conditions. When KCl(s) is placed into water, the salt will be dissolved into ions until a saturation concentration is achieved. The saturation mass fraction [1] of KCl(s) in water at 25°C is 0.2622 (Table 10.19). However, if the conditions are changed, say, to very high temperature and low density, then it could be a case where dissolved KCl(aq) will mostly be molecules.

FIGURE 1.1 Formation of KCl(aq) solution due to dissolution reaction: KCl(s) → K+(aq)⁺Cl⁻(aq).

Aqueous solutions can approximately be divided into three types: strong electrolytes, weak electrolytes, and nonelectrolytes. Strong electrolytes are completely dissociated (to ions), and weak electrolytes are partially...

Table of contents

• Cover
• Half Title
• Title Page
• Copyright Page
• Table of Contents
• Preface
• Acknowledgments
• Author
• Introduction
• List of Abbreviations
• List of Symbols, Their Names, and SI Units
• Chapter 1 Electrolyte Solutions
• Chapter 2 Electrochemical Cells
• Chapter 3 Electric Conductivity
• Chapter 4 Equilibrium Electrochemistry
• Chapter 5 Electrochemical Techniques I
• Chapter 6 Electrochemical Kinetics
• Chapter 7 Electrochemical Techniques II
• Chapter 8 Electrochemical Energy Conversion
• Chapter 9 Electrochemical Corrosion
• Chapter 10 Data Section
• Appendix A: Quizzes
• Appendix B: Video-Based Assignments
• Appendix C: Laboratory Instructions
• Index