Postgraduate Course: Electrochemistry and Sensors (CHEM11071)
Course Outline
| School | School of Chemistry |
College | College of Science and Engineering |
| Credit level (Normal year taken) | SCQF Level 11 (Postgraduate) |
Availability | Not available to visiting students |
| SCQF Credits | 10 |
ECTS Credits | 5 |
| Summary | Analytical sensing is a key step involved in industrial, environmental, agricultural, clinical and screening applications. Field portable sensors are specifically in high demand for applications involving the detection of toxic gases in air, pollutants in water, biological markers or viruses in oral fluid and other biological fluids. Compared to optical, mass and thermal sensors, electrochemical sensors are especially attractive because of their remarkable detectability, experimental simplicity and low cost. They have a leading position among the presently available sensors that have reached the commercial stage and which have found a vast range of important applications in the fields of clinical, industrial, environmental and agricultural analyses.
A list of current portable electrochemical sensors includes: Carbon monoxide gas sensors, arsenic and heavy metals (Pb,Hg,Cd etc) water quality sensors, glucose (diabetes monitoring), influenza virus and DNA sensors.
|
| Course description |
The course material covers key concepts relating to the application of electrochemical sensors as a key tool in Analytical Chemistry. The course forms a part of the curriculum for any student enrolled on the PGT MSc degree course in Analytical Chemistry. The course consists of a blend of lectures, tutorials, workshops and hands-on experimental activities, which deal with the key concepts of electrochemistry and its application to real-world analytical challenges. The course aims to develop the students ability to think critically and creatively and solve analytical problems. Students will be assessed on their performance in an exam and on their performance in hands-on activities. The course topics include:
Introduction to electrochemistry
Nernst equation, electrode kinetics, dynamic electrochemistry, the Butler-Volmer and Tafel equations. Overpotentials.
Kinetically and mass transport controlled electrochemical processes. Mass transport by migration, convection and diffusion.
Conductivity. The electrochemical double layer.
Potentiostatic and galvanostatic electrochemical methods including chronoamperometry, chronocoulometry, cyclic voltammetry, chronopotentiometry, ac impedance spectroscopy, spectroelectrochemistry and hydrodynamic methods.
The fundamentals of electrochemical sensors
Homogeneous and heterogeneous electrocatalysis.
Electrochemical processes coupled to chemical steps.
The fundamentals of material corrosion investigations.
Nanostructured and surface modified electrodes.
Biosensors.
Introduction to batteries, fuel cells, supercapacitors and electrochemical solar cells. Electrochemical processes of particular relevance to energy conversion.
|
Entry Requirements (not applicable to Visiting Students)
| Pre-requisites |
|
Co-requisites | |
| Prohibited Combinations | |
Other requirements | None |
Course Delivery Information
|
| Academic year 2022/23, Not available to visiting students (SS1)
|
Quota: None |
| Course Start |
Semester 1 |
Timetable |
Timetable |
| Learning and Teaching activities (Further Info) |
Total Hours:
100
(
Lecture Hours 12,
Seminar/Tutorial Hours 18,
Summative Assessment Hours 2,
Revision Session Hours 2,
Programme Level Learning and Teaching Hours 2,
Directed Learning and Independent Learning Hours
64 )
|
| Assessment (Further Info) |
Written Exam
50 %,
Coursework
50 %,
Practical Exam
0 %
|
| Additional Information (Assessment) |
Exam 50%
Coursework/practical 50% |
| Feedback |
Not entered |
| No Exam Information |
Learning Outcomes
On completion of this course, the student will be able to:
- Apply Nernst equation to electrochemical systems and describe the difference between equilibrium properties and properties of electrochemical systems in which currents are present.
- Apply electrochemical methods such as: chronoamperometry, cyclic voltammetry, chronopotentiometry, chronocoulometry, ac impedance and spectroelectrochemistry in analytical sensing. Rationalise the importance of factors such as selectivity, sensitivity, reproducibility, dynamic range, operating environment and cost.
- Apply electrochemical techniques for the investigation of material corrosion mechanisms and the study of homogeneous and heterogeneous catalytical processes .
- Apply electrode design rules (macro, micro and nano-structured arrays of electrodes) in the development of enhanced electrochemical sensors.
- Apply non-invasive electrochemical techniques for quantification of degradation modes in energy storage devices (batteries, supercapacitors, fuel cells etc).
|
Additional Information
| Graduate Attributes and Skills |
Develop an understanding on how heterogeneous reactions occur at the electrode-solid/solution/gas interface.
Learn which electrochemical technique is most suitable to solving which analytical chemistry problems.
Acquire an understanding of how kinetically and mass transport controlled electrochemical processes can be measured or controlled through the application of an electrical signal (current, potential).
|
| Keywords | Not entered |
Contacts
| Course organiser | Dr Annamaria Lilienkampf
Tel: (0131 6)50 4812
Email: |
Course secretary | Ms Zoe Burger
Tel: (0131 6)50 7546
Email: |
|
|
University Homepage