Associate Professor Piotr Ozga
Utility of Thermodynamics in Electrochemistry
The application of thermodynamics to the analysis of electrochemical processes is essential to assess the reactivity and stability of materials systems as also to assess energy generation by the electrochemical devices. The seminar covers the fundamental aspects of electrochemical thermodynamics, such as chemical equilibrium, chemical systems, equilibrium constant, types of equilibrium constant, equilibrium in strong electrolytes (ionic strength), electrode potential, standard reduction potential, reference electrodes. Another important topic will be modern sources of thermodynamic data (stability constants data, conditional stability constants data, etc.). The seminar includes also several practical topics, such as construction of electrochemical phase diagrams (Eh-pH diagrams), corrosion analysis (passivation, immunity, Pourbaix diagrams, examples of Pourbaix diagrams, limitations of Pourbaix diagram, barrier and sacrificial protection), stability of electrolytic bath for electrodepositon of metals and alloys (predominance area diagrams), preparation of mixed films by electrochemical precipitation, fuel cells (types of fuel cell, fuel cell efficiency), battery. The seminar covers also examples of concepts of new technologies which use the electrochemical processes, such as Zero Emission Coal (ZEC, hydrogen and carbon dioxide production concept) and electrochemically-mediated separations for CO2 capture.
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