SCC0198 - ELECTROANALYSIS

courses

ID:

SCC0198

Duration (hours):

52

CFU:

SSD:

CHIMICA ANALITICA

Year:

2025

Date/time interval

Primo Semestre (22/09/2025 - 16/01/2026)

Course Objectives

The course delivers the fundamentals of electrochemistry during the first section and the theory and practice of electroanalytical methods in the second part. Expected learning outcomes include: • Flux of chemical species in solution • Electrochemical thermodynamics • Electrochemical kinetics • Diffusion at electrodes • Factors controlling the electron transfer at electrodes • Structure of the solution-electrode interface • Electrode geometry and current response • Principles and different kind of voltammetric techniques • Quantitative and characterization methods in voltammetric techniques • Structure and kind of sensors and biosensors • Principles and applications of potentiometric techniques The ability to apply the acquired knowledge would allow the student to • Understand the peculiarities and drawbacks of electrochemical methods in the general context of analytical methods • Choose the correct electroanalytical technique to obtain quantitative information or the electrochemical characterization of an ion or a molecule • Understand and assess the results obtained from an electroanalytical method • Perform correctly a determination or characterization based on an electroanalytical technique

Course Prerequisites

The knowledge acquired during the general, organic and analytical chemistry of the Bachellor degree are needed to attend the present course. The main concepts of electrostatic are also mandatory to understand the course subjects and they will be briefly outlined whenever the need arise (i.e. they are not a prerequisite to attend the course). Passing of other exams is not required to take the present exam.

Teaching Methods

The course features 42 hours of lectures and 6 hours of laboratory group activities. Active learning is pursued by the engagement of students through promoting participation during the lectures (class discussion, brief problems, reference to previous knowledge and applications), laboratory activities and homework assignments.

Assessment Methods

An oral examination of around 45 minutes will be used for the final exam. The evaluation will be performed based on typically three questions: 1) electrochemistry fundamentals (electrochemical kinetics, diffusional control, electrode-solution interface); 2) description of an electroanalytical technique (voltammetry, potentiometry, sensors); 3) evaluation of the ability to apply the acquired knowledge (as an example: discussion of the data from an electroanalytical characterization or determination, choice of the electroanalytical technique to solve a real problem).

The course is organized in two sections: the fundamentals of electrochemistry and electron transfer are firstly presented, followed by the description of electroanalytical techniques. The first section includes: • Electrostatics and electrochemistry fundamentals (4 h): physical quantities in electrostatics, electrochemical potential, electrochemical equilibrium, electrochemical cells, ions in solution, activity • Electrode-solution interface (4 h) • Electron transfer kinetics (4 h) • Diffusional control (4 h) The second section is devoted to electroanalytical techniques: • Electrode types and features (4 h): construction, polarizable window, static and hydrodynamic electrodes, micro and nano-electrodes • Chronoamperometry and chronocoulometry (2 h) • Voltammetric techniques (4 h): potential scan, preconcentration steps, signal sampling • Stripping voltammetry (4 h): type of stripping and applications • Cyclic voltammetry (4 h lecture and 6 h laboratory activities): study of reaction mechanisms and characterization of electrochemical properties • Potentiometric techniques (4 h): principles, instrumentations, electrodes and applications • Sensors and biosensors (4 h): definition, principles, construction, glucose biosensor The two laboratory activities (3 h each) are devoted to the determination of the electrochemical properties of two species showing different features: electrochemical properties (i.e. formal redox potential, exchanged electrons, symmetry coefficient and heterogeneous kinetic constant) will be determined for both species, whereas adsorption properties will be determined for the adsorbing species.