Electrochemical cell

Electrochemical cell
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Name	Electrochemical cell
Classification	Electrochemical device

Electrochemical cell An electrochemical cell converts chemical energy into electrical energy or vice versa via redox reactions at electrodes. It underpins technologies from primary batteries to fuel cells, influencing industries, laboratories, and transport systems. Key historical figures and institutions advanced the field through experimental work and commercialization.

Introduction

Electrochemical cells trace development through figures such as Alessandro Volta, Luigi Galvani, Michael Faraday, John Frederic Daniell, and Gaston Planté, and institutions including the Royal Society, École Polytechnique, University of Göttingen, Imperial College London, and Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Major events and works—like the Industrial Revolution, the publication of On the Electrodynamics of Moving Bodies influences in physics, and patents from companies such as General Electric, Siemens, Panasonic Corporation, and Sony—shaped industrial adoption. Standards and awards tied to electrochemistry emerge from bodies such as the Royal Society of Chemistry, Electrochemical Society, and national laboratories including Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory.

Types of Electrochemical Cells

Cell categories include galvanic cells (primary and secondary), electrolytic cells, concentration cells, and fuel cells. Primary cells were commercialized by firms like Duracell and Energizer following discoveries by inventors linked to Gaston Planté and Camille Alphonse Faure. Secondary or rechargeable cells—lead–acid, nickel–cadmium, nickel–metal hydride, and lithium-based systems—saw contributions from companies including Tesla, Inc., Panasonic Corporation, LG Chem, and Samsung SDI. Fuel cell development involved collaborations among Ballard Power Systems, Hydrogenics, General Motors, Toyota Motor Corporation, and research at Argonne National Laboratory. Electrolytic cells enable industrial processes in firms such as Alcoa, Hydro-Québec, and BASF.

Components and Operation

Typical components include two electrodes, an electrolyte, a separator or membrane, current collectors, and external circuitry; design work occurs in engineering groups at MIT, Stanford University, ETH Zurich, Imperial College London, and industrial R&D at General Motors, BMW, and Ford Motor Company. Electrodes employ materials developed by researchers linked to Batteries Laboratory at Cambridge, Oak Ridge National Laboratory, and companies like 3M and Sumitomo Chemical. Membranes and separators trace design influences from patents filed by DuPont, W. L. Gore & Associates, and studies from National Renewable Energy Laboratory. Electrolytes range from aqueous acids and alkalis used historically by Daniell to organic solvents and ionic liquids investigated at Max Planck Society and Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory. Current collectors and cell housings are engineered by firms such as Bloom Energy and Johnson Matthey.

Electrochemical Reactions and Thermodynamics

Reaction kinetics and thermodynamics are framed using laws and quantities developed by Michael Faraday and formalized in works by physicists and chemists affiliated with Princeton University, Harvard University, and California Institute of Technology. Key concepts draw on the Nernst equation, Butler–Volmer kinetics, and overpotential analyses used in studies at ETH Zurich and Delft University of Technology. Electrochemical characterization techniques—cyclic voltammetry, electrochemical impedance spectroscopy, and chronoamperometry—are standard in laboratories at University of Cambridge, Tokyo Institute of Technology, and Seoul National University. Computational modeling and materials discovery employ methods from research teams at Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, Argonne National Laboratory, and industrial centers like IBM Research.

Applications and Devices

Electrochemical cells power portable electronics produced by Apple Inc., Samsung Electronics, and Sony, electric vehicles developed by Tesla, Inc., Nissan Motor Corporation, and General Motors, and grid-scale storage projects by utilities such as Pacific Gas and Electric Company and National Grid plc. Fuel cells are used in transport initiatives by Toyota Motor Corporation, Hyundai Motor Company, and aerospace programs at NASA and European Space Agency. Electrolytic cells enable production of industrial chemicals at corporations like Dow Chemical Company, BASF, and Rio Tinto. Sensors, corrosion control systems, and electroplating services derive from collaborations among Siemens, Honeywell International Inc., and research institutions such as CEA Saclay.

Safety and Environmental Considerations

Safety protocols and environmental regulations are governed by agencies and standards developed by Occupational Safety and Health Administration, European Chemicals Agency, International Organization for Standardization, and guidance from United Nations Environment Programme. Recycling and lifecycle management programs involve corporations like Umicore, Retriev Technologies, and national initiatives in Japan, Germany, and United States Department of Energy research programs. Environmental impacts—resource extraction for lithium, cobalt, and nickel—have prompted policy work by bodies including United Nations, World Bank, and International Energy Agency. Emergency response and transportation of batteries follow regulations set by Department of Transportation (United States), International Air Transport Association, and International Maritime Organization.

Category:Electrochemistry