Electrochemistry

Dr. Chandrakumar Appayee

Assistant Professor
IIT Gandhinagar

https://achandra9.wixsite.com/ch-201
Standard Reduction Potential

Easy to reduce
(Strongest oxidizing
agents)

Easy to oxidize
(strongest reducing
agents)
 Galvanic
XXX cell

Reduction
Oxidation
Cu2+ + 2e- Cu
Zn Zn2+ +2 e-
E° = -0.76 V E° = +0.34 V

E°cell = +1.10 V
 Fuel Cell
Catalyst
ØUsually platinum powder very thinly coated onto Proton-Exchange Membrane
carbon paper or cloth. Fuel Cell
ØRough & porous maximizes surface area
exposed to hydrogen or oxygen
ØThe platinum-coated side of the catalyst faces
the PEM.
Electrolyte
Ø Proton exchange membrane.
Ø Specially treated material, only conducts positively
charged ions.
Anode
ØConducts the electrons that are freed from the
hydrogen molecules so that they can be used in
an external circuit.
ØEtched channels disperse hydrogen gas over
the surface of catalyst.
2H2 → 4H+ + 4e- E° = 0.00 V

Cathode
ØEtched channels distribute oxygen to the
surface of the catalyst.
ØConducts electrons back from the external
circuit to the catalyst
ØRecombine with the hydrogen ions and oxygen
to form water.
4H+ + O2 + 4e- → 2H2O E° = +1.23 V

E°cell = +1.23 V
 Uses of hydrogen fuel cells
•Power sources for vehicles such as cars, trucks, buses and even boats and
submarines

•Power sources for spacecraft, remote weather stations and military technology

•Batteries for electronics such as laptops and smart phones

•Sources for uninterruptable power supplies.

Cost of hydrogen fuel cells (Platinum catalyst)

Drawbacks: Cost of hydrogen fuel
Safety issues in handling hydrogen
 Lead-Acid Battery
• The lead-acid cells in automobile batteries are wet
cells
• Deliver short burst of high power, to start the engine
• Battery supplies power to the starter and ignition
system to start the engine

Anode: Porous lead

Cathode: Lead-dioxide
Electrolyte: Sulfuric acid, 6 molar H2SO4

Discharging

(-) electrode: Pb(s) + SO42-(aq) → PbSO4(s) + 2e-

(+) electrode: PbO2(s) + 4H+(aq) + SO42-(aq) + 2e- → PbSO4(s) + 2H2O(l)

Charging

(-) electrode: PbSO4(s) + 2e- → Pb(s) + SO42-(aq)

(+) electrode: PbSO4(s) + 2H2O(l) → PbO2(s) + 4H+(aq) + SO42-(aq) + 2e-

Lithium Ion Battery - Applications
 Lithium Ion Battery

Positive electrode: Lithiated form of a transition metal oxide (lithium cobalt oxide-
LiCoO2 or lithium manganese oxide LiMn2O4)

Negative electrode: Carbon (C), usually graphite (C6)

Electrolyte: solid lithium-salt electrolytes (LiPF6, LiBF4, or LiClO4) and organic

solvents (ether)