The course covers the following topics: Definitions: coulometry, current efficiency, typical electrochemical cells and electrical energy storage/utilization: primary cell (MnO2-Zn), secondary cell (Pb-acid, Li-ion), fuel cell (PEMFC, SOFC), plating (Watts Ni), winning (Zn-acid) and refining cells (Cu-acid); electrolytic conductance: strong and weak electrolytes, ionic mobility, transference number, ionic diffusivity, limiting current, anode blocking; Throwing power of electroplating systems; Thermodynamics of cells, Nernst equation; Concentration cells and electrometric probes, Electrochemical conventions for ions in aqueous solution, reference electrodes, standard electrode potential, ionic activity and Debye-Huckel equation; Thermodynamic properties of ions in aqueous electrolytes; Electrode overvoltage and its measurement; Significance of hydrogen overvoltage in aqueous electrochemistry; Butler-Volmer equation and simplified forms; Exchange current density concept; Concentration overpotential; Passivity and overvoltage; Multiple reactions at one electrode; Implications on current efficiency, energy consumption and cell operation; Modelling the performance of electrochemical cells and fuel cells in detail. (0/0/0/30/12) PREREQUISITE: CHEE 210, CHEE 311, or permission of the department.
