ELECTROCHEMISTRY

• Electrochemistry


  A branch of chemistry dealing with chemical reactions that involve electrical currents and potentials
• Electrochemical reactions


  • Some can generate electrical current, which can be used to do useful work
  • Others can be forced to proceed by using electrical current
• John Daniell


  English chemist, credited as a founder of electrochemistry
• Michael Faraday


  Physicist, credited as a founder of electrochemistry
• Shelf life


  The time period a battery can stay powered up and should be able to use it for a rated time period
• Charging current


  The maximum current that can be applied to charge the battery
• Voltage


  The pressure from an electrical circuit's power source that pushes charged electrons (current) through a conducting loop, enabling them to do work
• Battery


  A device that converts chemical energy contained within its active materials directly into electric energy by means of an electrochemical oxidation-reduction (redox) reaction
• Types of battery

  • Non-rechargeable (primary) batteries
  • Rechargeable (secondary) batteries
• Non-rechargeable (primary) batteries


  • Can be used only once, cannot be recharged and used again
• Alkaline batteries


  Constructed with Zinc (Zn) and Manganese dioxide (MnO2), using potassium hydroxide electrolyte, have a power density of 100 Wh/Kg
• Alkaline battery applications

  • Torches, remotes, wall clocks
• Coin cell batteries


  Chemical composition is also alkaline, with lithium and silver oxide, have a power density of 270 Wh/Kg
• Coin cell battery applications

  • Watches, wall clocks, weighing machines, other low power miniature electronic products
• Rechargeable (secondary) batteries

  • Can be recharged and reused, have a high life span when properly used and safely charged
• Lead-acid batteries


  Consist of lead-acid, very cheap, used in cars and vehicles to power lighting systems, have a power density of 7 Wh/Kg
• Lead-acid battery applications

  • Cars, UPS, robotics, heavy machinery
• Li-Po (Lithium Ion polymer) batteries

  Use high conductivity polymer gel/polymers electrolyte instead of liquid electrolyte, part of Li-ion technology
• Li-Po battery applications

  • Portable devices, drones, robotics, RC toys
• Electrochemistry is vital in a wide range of important technological applications, such as batteries for storing energy for mobile devices, vehicles, and enabling the use of renewable energy conversion technologies
• Electrochemistry is important for load leveling to enable the use of renewable energy conversion technologies