Electrochemical Engineering

Dan Schwartz
Electrochemical Materials and Interfaces Lab
Department of Chemical Engineering
What is Electrochemical Engineering?
(Hint it involves engineering systems that combines
chemistry and electricity)
What is Electrochemical Engineering?
(Hint it involves engineering systems that combines
chemistry and electricity)

• Electroplating
• Batteries
• Fuel Cells
• Corrosion
• Electrosynthesis/Electrorefining
• Sensors
 What is Electrochemical Engineering?
(Hint it involves engineering systems that combines
chemistry and electricity)

• Electroplating
• Batteries
• Fuel Cells
• Corrosion
• Electrosynthesis/Electrorefining
• Sensors

10% of US electricity goes to electrosythesis/refining

4% of US economy is eaten-up by corrosion each year

Electroplating: Not just for bumpers anymore!

State-of-the-art Intel, IBM, and AMD chips have

70 nm copper plated wires connecting a billion
transistors!
Electroplating: Not just for bumpers anymore!
Batteries: More than just flashlight power!

Implanted pacemakers, defibrillators, and

neurostimulators rely on 10 year Li batteries
(you think a dead cellphone battery is a pain)
Fuel Cells: More than just a battery!

Hydrogen fuel cells run the reactions

2H2 ---> 4H+ + 4e–
O2 + 4H+ + 4 e– ---> 2H2O
on each side of a membrane
Fuel Cells: More than just a battery!

Hydrogen fuel cells run the reactions

2H2 ---> 4H+ + 4e–
O2 + 4H+ + 4 e– ---> 2H2O
on each side of a membrane
 Corrosion: The opposite of electroplating

Corrosion happens when

an oxidant is around
2Fe ---> 2Fe+2 + 4e–
QuickTime™ and a
TIFF (Uncompressed) decompressor
are needed to see this picture.
O2 + 2H2O + 4 e– ---> 4OH–
followed by
2Fe +2 + 4OH– ---> 2Fe(OH)2

http://www.corrosion-club.com/images/mechanism.gif
 Corrosion: The opposite of electroplating

What we dump into the atmosphere affects corrosion rates

 Corrosion: The opposite of electroplating

What we dump into the atmosphere affects corrosion rates

 Electrosynthesis/Electrorefining

Chlorine
Alkali
Adiponitrile
Acetaminophine
Fluoronated monomers
Aluminum

Dow chemical started with

(NaCl brine) 2Cl– ---> Cl2 + 2e– (Chlorine)
(water) 2H2O + 2e– ---> 2OH– + H2 (Caustic)
Electrochemical sensors are all around
Electrochemical sensors are all around
Electrochemical sensors are all around