After completing the course, you are expected to understand the presented theory and to be able to apply it. With “understanding” it is meant that you can explain the course material, including mathematical derivations, and that you are able to use the knowledge to solve questions of a similar level as asked during the tutorial. With “applying” it is meant that you can use the knowledge to perform numerical calculations and to answer questions asked in the context of applied problems.
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This course builds on prior knowledge of thermodynamics and interfaces acquired in the bachelor level 2 course SK-BFYCH and on elementary knowledge of e.g. redox potentials, half reactions, Nernst law and Pourbaix diagrams acquired in bachelor level 1 courses, in particular SK-BFYAN13. The present course expands students’ knowledge of physical chemistry and electrochemistry, preparing students for courses at the master’s level—for instance the courses on Nonequilibrium systems and transport phenomena (SK-MNSTP) and on Colloid Science (SK-MCS)—and it provides relevant background knowledge for performing bachelor or master research in topics ranging from soft matter to electrochemistry.
The course consists of 3 parts: interfaces, thermodynamics, and electrochemistry.
The interfaces part of the course includes surface wetting, interfacial adsorption, surface active species, electrically charged interfaces, experimental methods to study interfaces, and a number of applications.
The thermodynamics part of the course includes a review of basic concepts of statistical thermodynamics, the relation between interaction potential and second virial coefficient, as well as Flory-Huggins theory of polymer solutions and theory for the depletion interaction. Moreover, applications of the various theories are discussed in the context of colloidal dispersions.
The electrochemistry part of the course starts with a thermodynamic approach, where standard reduction potentials, construction of half reactions and different types electrochemical cells will be treated (EC1). It continues with the kinetics of electrochemistry (EC2), including Tafel and Butler-Volmer equations, electrochemical measurement techniques, as well as solvation of cations and the formation of the electrochemical double layer. The materials used as electrodes in electrolyzers (for e.g. water splitting and CO2 reduction) will be discussed in EC3, alongside with physical chemistry concepts such as diffusion, mass transport and overpotential. Finally, after treating the basics of charge transport in solids and liquids (electrolytes), it treats the application of electrochemistry in batteries (EC4).
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