DEPARTMENT OF CHEMISTRY
INDIAN INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY MADRAS

CY6998 : Electrochemical Approaches to Functional Supramolecular Systems

Systems Objectives:

The course embodies a combined approach of supramolecular chemistry with electrochemistry that has produced a wealth of interesting functions and devices and their practical applications in energy conversion technology, advanced materials and diagnostics. The objective of the course is to bring forth the current electrochemical research applied to multi-component chemical systems with a special attention to properties and functions. The course, structured for ~ 40 lectures during an even semester, will cater to Ph. D as well as M. Sc / M. Tech graduate students (in a limited sense to B. Techs) who wish to explore the frontiers of electrochemistry with materials and nanosciences.

The essential features of the syllabus are the following:

  • Analytical electrochemistry
  • Bio-electrochemistry
  • Electrochemical materials science
  • Electrochemical energy conversion and storage

Detailed Syllabus:

Fundamental Concepts in Analytical Electrochemistry

Mass transport, Linear diffusion, Fick’s laws and diffusion coefficient, The charged interface, Potential step and potential sweep experiments, Reactions controlled by rate of electron transfer and activated complex theory

Electrode Types and Study of Electrode Reactions:

Carbon electrodes, Semiconductor film electrodes, Microelectrodes, Ultra-micro electrodes, Ion-selective electrodes, Porous electrodes and non uniform reaction rates, Hydrodynamic/Rotating disk electrodes, Semiconductor electrodes and electrical capacitance

Cyclic voltammetry in reversible, quasi-reversible and irreversible systems, Study of reaction mechanisms, Surface modification in charge transfer and interfacial activity Electron transfer in DNA and biosystems

Spectro-Electrochemical and Spectroscopic Techniques:

Impedance Spectroscopy, Scanning Electrochemical Microscopy, Electrochemical AFM and STM, , Electrochemical Quartz Crystal Microbalance

Electrochemical Materials and Sensors:

Electroactive Fullerenes, Carbon Nanotubes, Biomolecules, Controlled Potential Techniques, Electrochemical synthesis of nanomaterials, nanowires and conducting polymers, Functional nanoparticles as catalysts and sensors, MOSFETS and ISFETS, Solid state molecular devices

Electrochemical Energy Systems:

Photo-electrochemistry, Monitoring photolytic intermediates, Electroluminescence and devices and sensors, Electro – chemiluminescence, Digital simulation of electrochemical problems, Sample BASIC programs

Fuel cells: Electrode materials, Diagnostic tools in fuel cell research, Determination of injection efficiency and electron diffusion length under steady state condition, Small-amplitude time-resolved methods, Organic solar cells

Recommended Books:

  1. Allen J. Bard and Larry R. Faulkner, Electrochemical Methods: Fundamentals and Applications, 2nd edition 2001, John Wiley & Sons
  2. Allen J. Bard (Ed), Electroanalytical Chemistry, Vol.13, Plenum Press 1983
  3. Joseph Wang, Analytical Electrochemistry, 3rd edition 2006, John Wiley & Sons
  4. Paola Ceroni, Alberto Credi and Margherita Venturi (Ed), Electrochemistry of Functional Supramolecular Systems, 2010, John Wiley & Sons
  5. Kosuke Isutzu, Electrochemistry in Non-aqueous Solutions, Wiley – VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. 2002
  6. Kalyanasundaram (Ed), Dye-Sensitized Solar Cells, EPFL Press, 1st Edition 2010(ISBN 978-2-940222-36-0)
  7. Newman, Electrochemical Systems, Wiley-Interscience, 3rd edition 2004