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Electrochemistry

Electrochemistry offers an unique opportunity to investigate a variety of chemical processes at interfaces. Several research groups in our department study the fundamentals and applications of electrochemistry, which creates interdisciplinary research areas that span chemistry, physics, biology, and material/nano sciences.We take advantage of the powerful electrochemical approach to synthesize and characterize novel polymer/nano materials and also develop sensor devices. For instance, the high sensitivity and selectivity of our electrochemical sensors allow for in-situ monitoring of biologically important molecules such as DNA, neurotransmitters, and drugs at trace level. We are also interested in understanding how electrons, ions, and molecules are transported at solid/liquid, liquid/liquid, and membrane interfaces. To answer these questions, we develop new electrochemical methods as well as control interfacial structures at the molecular level.

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The University of Pennsylvania is an internationally renowned research institution that attracts the best students from the United States and around the globe. The Graduate Program is designed for students who wish to earn a Ph.D. in Chemistry while undertaking cutting edge research. The program provides students with the necessary theoretical background and hands-on training to become independent and highly successful scientists.  Graduate students achieve mastery of advanced chemistry topics through courses in different subdisciplines. Broad exposure to current research also occurs via four weekly departmental seminar programs and many interdisciplinary, university-wide lecture series.

Currently, faculty, students, and postdoctoral associates in Chemistry work in the fields of bioinorganic chemistry, bioorganic chemistry, chemical biology, biophysical chemistry, bioinformatics, materials science, laser chemistry, health related chemistry, structural and dynamical studies of biological systems, X-ray scattering/diffraction, NMR spectroscopy, applications of computing and computer graphics, as well as investigations of chemical communication and hormone-receptor interactions. Many research groups combine different techniques to explore frontier areas, such as nanomaterials applied to biology, photoactive biomolecules, and single-molecule imaging. Novel synthetic procedures are under constant development for targets ranging from super-emissive nanoparticles to highly specialized drug molecules and giant dendrimers, which are being explored, for example, as drug-delivery systems. The Research Facilities in the Department of Chemistry provide a strong technology base to enable the highest level of innovation. Graduate students are a driving, integral force at Penn Chemistry.

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(Invited) Graduate Doctoral Program in Electrochemistry and Electrochemical Engineering at University of California Irvine

Plamen Atanassov 1

© 2021 ECS - The Electrochemical Society ECS Meeting Abstracts , Volume MA2021-02 , L04: Education in Electrochemistry 3 Citation Plamen Atanassov 2021 Meet. Abstr. MA2021-02 1497 DOI 10.1149/MA2021-02511497mtgabs

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1 University of California, Irvine

UCI Electrochemistry & Electrochemical Engineering graduate program initiative was born in a series of ad-hock meetings of groups of UCI faculty members early in the Fall of 2018 with realization of reaching a critical mass in this intrinsically interdisciplinary area of research, two decades of offering a "classic" electrochemistry class in Chemistry (part of School of Physical Sciences), the existence of multiple electrochemistry modules and a set of Fuel Cell Technology classes at the Advanced Power and Energy Program , Samueli School of Engineering. Artur M. Sackler Colloquium of the National Academy of Sciences on Status and Challenges in Science for Decarbonizing our Energy Landscape (October 10-12, Beckman Center, Irvine, CA) saw the presence of some 17 UCI professors with a self-declared adherence to electrochemical science and engineering ranging from photo-electrochemistry, bio-electrochemistry, sensors & actuators, high-temperature electro-chemistry and solid-state ionics, electrochemical energy technology and power systems and corrosion. It was this very fact of self-identification that is the most powerful impetus for this initiative to create a graduate program at both PhD and MS/ME levels. It came with the spark realization that at present, in the US, (and could be also in Europe or in Japan), there is no other university campus with such high concentration of achievement and talent in the general area of electrochemistry. It came also with the call from the key constituencies: the high-technology wave of renewable energy integration into the grid, highest demand for electricity storage, new mobility and propulsion and with the need to transform critical chemical processes, like Haber-Bosch ammonia synthesis, or Fischer-Tropsch processing of CO and hydrogen to liquid fuels. Electrochemical sciences will play fundamental role in freeing humanity from dependence on fossil fuels and associated high temperature / high pressure processes. Electrochemical engineering is one of the ways to introduce environmentally friendly, low-temperature, solution-based technologies and is the base of hydrogen economy, as a path to ultimate decarbonization.

With this in mind, an initiative group had set-off to create a proposal for a graduate program first as interdisciplinary engineering PhD degree program within Samueli School of Engineering, with Chemical & Biomolecular Engineering, Materials Science & Engineering and Mechanical & Aerospace Engineering initial participation, with an extension to professional Masters in Engineering (ME) and then as a cross-disciplinary (campus-wide) program to include School of Physical Sciences, with Chemistry, Physics & Astronomy and Earth Systems Sciences participation. The initial thrust is to build on fundamental electrochemistry towards materials and energy applications. Extending the program to include sensors and sensor systems as well as water quality and treatment will naturally lead to inclusion of Electric Engineering & Computer Engineering, Biomedical Engineering and Civil & Environmental Engineering faculty. Through this involvement all departments in both schools would become contributive partners in the program. We will discuss the sequence and content (ssyllaby) of all current and planned classes. All though classes are indicted with course number and instructor's name and departmental affiliation. This first 3 teaching quarters have not been formally organized as a program but rather were "self-harmonized" between the faculty as a pedagogical experiment. This presentation will discuss curriculum links and program building challenges. 1

1 The University of California Irvine (as well as most of the UC System campuses) is teaching on a Quarter System: three 10-week long teaching periods: Fall, Winter and Spring.

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Electrochemistry - department of materials science and engineering, electrochemistry.

Electrochemistry Home

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The Electrochemistry Group at the Department of Materials Science and Engineering aims to provide fundamental, theoretical and technological skills to masters and doctoral engineering students. The primary task for the electrochemistry group’s research activity is to develop fundamental understanding of electrochemical processes and electrochemical materials technology. This knowledge is brought forward into the group’s teaching, applied research and problem solving for industries, including the Norwegian electrolysis industry and for materials and corrosion related tasks within the chemical process and petroleum industry.

The electrochemistry group works with both fundamental and industrially relevant problem tasks important for the continuous development of a research-based electrochemistry education. Our masters and PhD candidates are highly desirable and commonly work closely together with Norwegian industry on joint research projects. Together with Sintef, the group has built up a large research laboratory within electrochemistry embracing electrowinning, electrochemical energy technology and corrosion. As a result, the group has numerous national and international collaborators and a research term abroad is often encouraged.

The electrochemistry group is split into three main research areas:

Electrochemical Energy

- Svein Sunde, Ann Mari Svensson, Frode Seland

Corrosion and Interface Chemistry

- Andreas Erbe

Electrolysis

-Geir Martin Haarberg, Espen Sandnes

Projects In addition, members of the electrochemistry group are part of a number of projects, either as project leaders or participants. Here are a few of them:

CANOPENER   LEAn SFI Metal Production FME MoZEES

A comprehensive list of all the group members can be found here.

We are committed to developing a fundamental understanding of electrochemical processes and electrochemical materials technology at all levels.

For this purpose, we run a number of courses for undergraduate, masters and PhD students:

Undergraduate courses: TMT4252 Electrochemistry TMT4285 Hydrogen technology, fuel cells, batteries and solar cells TMT4335 Carbon materials technology

Graduate courses (masters level): TMT4253 Electrochemical process and energy technology TMT4255 Corrosion and corrosion protection TMT4166 Experimental Materials Chemistry and Electrochemistry TMT4340 Materials and sustainable development

Graduate courses (PhD level): MT8102 Corrosion and surface technology MT8104 Electrolysis of Light Metals MT8108 Mass transfer MT8110 Electrochemical methods MT8218 Advanced Materials Science

A full list of courses run by the department

The electrochemistry group aims to provide state of the art equipment and instrumentation to fullfill all research needs.

We have over 450 m2 of lab space, containing a variety of equipment such as: glove boxes, advanced electrochemical equipment (RDE, DEIS, DEMS, EQCM, battery testers), FTIR, UV-vis spectrometers and scanning probe microscopes (AFM/STM).

The group also has access to infrastructure and facilities provided by  NTNU-NANO-lab clean rooms ,  NORFAB ,  RECX  and  NORTEM .

Specific information about all the instruments and equipment available to the department .

What's going on in the group?

We have two open positions in the group:

• PhD position on surface treatment of aluminium , deadline February 23rd 2020
• Post-doc position in Battery Technology , deadline February 1st 2020

Please get in touch if you would like to apply!

In December, Professor Frode Seland and three students from the group attended the annual NiElectroCan meeting in Ottawa, Canada.

Here they presented their work on Nickel based catalysts and coatings for use in low temperature fuel cells and electrolysers.

You can read the article, on the conversion of waste heat to H2 using reverse electrodialysis here:  https://www.mdpi.com/1996-1073/12/18/3428

Find an archive of all the old news articles here

Group Leader: Professor  Geir Martin Haarberg E-mail:  [email protected]

Visiting address: Sem Sælandsvei 12 NTNU N-7034 TRONDHEIM Norway

Postal address: Electrochemistry Research Group att: Geir Martin Haarberg Department of Materials Science and Engineering N-7491 TRONDHEIM Norway

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Espen sandnes associate professor, employees in electrochemistry, academic staff, andreas erbe professor of corrosion and interface chemistry, geir martin haarberg, frode seland professor, svein sunde professor, ann mari svensson professor, technical staff.

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Electrochemistry

Many of the technological advances, renewable energy sources, and other "green" technologies we look forward to will hinge upon on advances in battery technology.  The study of electrochemistry in the framework of materials science is essential to the innovations required to produce powerful fuel cell, battery, and power generation capabilities.

Self-heating lithium-ion battery could beat the winter woes

An all-climate battery that rapidly self-heats battery materials and electrochemical interfaces in cold environments. Image: Chao-Yang Wang / Penn State

Electrochemistry Research at Penn State

MatSE faculty and researches are involved in electrochemistry research and applications through the Electrochemical Engine Center (ECEC) and the Earth and Mineral Sciences Energy Institute. The EMS Energy Institute's Electrochemical Technologies Program promotes and facilitates the use of electrochemical probes and systems important for society, particularly fuel cells; nuclear, fossil fuel, and geothermal power generation; hydrothermal synthesis of new materials; and supercritical water oxidation of hazardous wastes. The ECEC is now divided into fuel cell, battery, hybrid-design, MEA fabrication, parallel computing and modeling labs, totaling more than 5,000 square feet of space.

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PhD Position – Automation of a High-Throughput Setup for Electrochemical Systems

Would you like to contribute to the energy transition in Germany through your work? Then the Helmholtz Institute Erlangen-Nürnberg (for Renewable Energy) (HI ERN) is the right place for you! The HI ERN forms the core of the close partnership betwe...

PhD Position – High-Throughput Electrochemical Characterization for Energy Applications

Would you like to contribute to the energy transition in Germany through your work? Then the Helmholtz Institute Erlangen-Nürnberg (for Renewable Energy) (HI ERN) is the right place for you! The HI ERN forms the core of the close partnership betwe...

PhD (M/F): Electrochemical video from the counter electrode

Position description:Emerging applications of nanomaterials in electrochemical energy conversion and storage require reliable assessment of their reactivity. Traditional macroscopic electrochemical measurements are difficult to differentiate the i...

Doctoral thesis (M/F) - Elucidation of the electrochemical activity of biochar in bioprocesses

General informationTo apply: http://doctorat.univ-lorraine.fr/fr/les-ecoles-doctorales/c2mp/offres-de-these/lue-decryptage-de-lactivite-electrochimique-du-biocharPlace of work: LCPME and LRGP at Université de Lorraine, Nancy, France. Collaboration...

The UCAM-SENS unit is recruiting six (6) PhD students

BackgroundThe UCAM-SENS is a scientific unit that strives for the true digital transformation of key domains such as Health, Sport, Food and the Environment by using advanced (bio)chemical sensing based on electrochemistry and imaging principles. ...

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PhD position in Electrochemical Energy Storage and ConversionThe Electrochemical Energy Systems Laboratory (PI: Prof. Lukatskaya) in the Department of Mechanical and Process Engineering at ETH Zuri...

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Project PROSTAMET is an immersive Doctoral Network (DN), that through the set-up of a unique comprehensive and modular translational pipeline aims to expose high achieving doctoral candidates to th...

Research Associate (Postdoctoral fellow)/Research Assistant (PhD candidate) in Environmental Technology

IntroductionGhent University Global Campus (GUGC; http://www.ugent.be/globalcampus/en) is an integrated campus of Ghent University, Belgium, and the first European university to be part of the Incheon Global Campus (IGC) in Incheon, South Korea. G...

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Applications are invited to 11 PhD positions within the Doctoral Network NanoRAM.NanoRAM is funded under the Horizon Europe Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions and incorporates 19 organisations across 12 countries with the goal of training a new genera...

PhD student position in CO2 electrocatalysis

Materials science and technology are our passion. With our cutting-edge research, Empa's around 1,100 employees make essential contributions to the well-being of society for a future worth living. ...

2024 New Year Famous Universities and Enterprises PhDs Recruitment and Cooperation Video Matchmaking Meeting

1、 Event Introduction In the Chinese New Year of 2024, Juqi Consulting collaborated with the Famous universities and enterprises club to organize global PhDs visits to well-known Chinese enterprises and universities, coordinating job recruitment a...

Doctoral scholarship holder (flow) batteries and electrochemical engineering for research group ELCAT

Let’s shape the future - University of AntwerpThe University of Antwerp is a dynamic, forward-thinking university. We offer an innovative academic education to more than 20000 students, conduct pio...

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Call for applications forMultiple PhD Positionsat theInternational Max Planck Research School (IMPRS)for Quantum Dynamics and Control (QDC)in Dresden, GermanyWe are looking for highly talented and motivated students from all around the world. The ...

Doctoral student in development of lignin-based carbon materials for metallurgy

Project descriptionThe present PhD project brings together the two largest industrial sectors in Sweden: the metallurgical industry and the pulp and paper industry. The use of carbon is critical to...

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The Navrátil research group (www.navratillab.com) offers fully funded Ph.D. positions (1.0 FTE, 4 years, expected start October 2024) for creative, talented and self-motivated researchers with strong background in Organic chemistry. The Principal ...

PhD position on alkaline water electrolysis

A vacancy is available for a PhD student in the field of alkaline water electrolysis within the group Sustainable Process Engineering at the Department of Chemical Engineering and Chemistry, Eindhoven University of Technology (TU/e), The Netherlan...

PhD Position – Electrochemical Engineering of Next Generation Water Electrolysis Cells

Would you like to contribute to the energy transition in Germany through your work? Then the Helmholtz Institute Erlangen-Nürnberg for Renewable Energy (HI ERN) is the right place for you! The HI ERN forms the core of the close partnership between...

PhD Position – Analysis and Investigation of Next Generation Water Electrolysis Cells

Doctoral student in organic chemistry with focus on electrosynthesis.

Project descriptionThird-cycle subject: Organic chemistry/chemical science  We seek a skilled doctoral student with a genuine interest in organic chemistry to carry out research in organic electros...

PhD Student (ETHZ)

The Paul Scherrer Institute PSI is the largest research institute for natural and engineering sciences within Switzerland. We perform cutting-edge research in the fields of future technologies, ene...

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Electrochemistry articles from across Nature Portfolio

Electrochemistry is a discipline that deals with chemical reactions that involve an exchange of electric charges between two substances. Both chemical changes generating electric currents and chemical reactions triggered by the passage of electricity can be considered electrochemical reactions.

An organic approach

Copper catalysts hold promise for producing multi-carbon chemicals through electrochemical CO 2 reduction, but improving performance is challenging due to the limited tunability of the copper surface. Now, research uses organic functionalization to modify the surface oxidation state of copper, yielding improved energy efficiency for ethylene production.

• Yun Jeong Hwang

Molecularly defined electrodes host a concert of protons and electrons

Electrocatalytic transformations often involve the concerted transfer of electrons and protons at electrode interfaces; however, these processes are not well understood. Now, experiments on an electrode that features well-defined molecular sites deepen fundamental understanding of such transfers to pave the way for future catalysts.

• Siyuan L. Xie
• Eva M. Nichols

Diluting with salts

Non-flammable electrolytes are essential for ensuring the safe operation of sodium-metal batteries; however, challenges arise in applications due to limited stability between the electrolytes and electrodes. Now, an electrolyte engineering approach using salts as a diluent is proposed to achieve both high interfacial stability and improved safety.

• Michel Armand

Related Subjects

• Electrocatalysis

Latest Research and Reviews

Hexane extract of Persea schiedeana Ness as green corrosion inhibitor for the brass immersed in 0.5 M HCl

• Genoveva BustosRivera-Bahena
• A. M. Ramírez-Arteaga
• Roy López Sesenes

Pulse potential mediated selectivity for the electrocatalytic oxidation of glycerol to glyceric acid

Mitigating the deactivation of noble metal-based catalysts caused by self-oxidation and toxic adsorption poses a considerable challenge in organic electro-oxidation. This study addresses the issue by employing a pulsed potential electrolysis approach to selectively electrocatalyze the oxidation of glycerol to glyceric acid using a Pt-based catalyst.

• Liang Zhang

Phenol as proton shuttle and buffer for lithium-mediated ammonia electrosynthesis

The proton shuttle plays a critical role in the proton transfer process during lithium-mediated ammonia synthesis. Here, the authors establish the structure-activity relationship and design principles for effective proton shuttles.

• Xianbiao Fu
• Ib Chorkendorff

Novel electrochemical platform based on C 3 N 4 -graphene composite for the detection of neuron-specific enolase as a biomarker for lung cancer

• Zhang Junping

Ion solvation kinetics in bipolar membranes and at electrolyte–metal interfaces

Ion solvation at solid–electrolyte interfaces is crucial in various components of energy conversion technologies, including water splitting electrocatalysts and bipolar membranes, but is poorly understood. Here the authors study ion solvation kinetics in these systems, highlighting the key role of interfacial capacitance in determining behaviour.

• Carlos G. Rodellar
• José M. Gisbert-Gonzalez
• Sebastian Z. Oener

A solid-state lithium-ion battery with micron-sized silicon anode operating free from external pressure

Applying high stack pressure is primarily done to address the mechanical failure issue of solid-state batteries. Here, the authors propose a mechanical optimization strategy involving elastic electrolyte to realize solid-state batteries operating without external pressurizing.

• Haoshen Zhou

News and Comment

Photoelectrochemical stimulation of the heart

An article in Nature reports a leadless photoelectrochemical device that exploits a new type of diode junction to regulate heartbeats by light.

• Christine-Maria Horejs

Breaking free from high pressure

• Changjun Zhang

Synthesis via cation replacement reactions

The scarcity of raw materials and complex synthesis procedures have impeded the development of electrolytes for Mg and Ca metal batteries. Research now reports a facile synthesis of organoborate electrolytes through cation replacement reactions, offering highly reversible Mg or Ca electrochemistry.

• Chunmei Ban

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Chemistry Ph.D Program

Programs of study.

Graduate courses and research programs leading to the MS and PhD degrees in chemistry are offered in analytical, biological, inorganic, organic, physical and theoretical chemistry. These programs include photochemistry, stereochemistry, electrochemistry, kinetics (including nanosecond and crossed-molecular beam studies), theoretical structure and dynamics, statistical mechanics, organic synthesis, inorganic synthesis, carbohydrate chemistry, NMR, ESR, laser and vacuum UV spectroscopy, pulse radiolysis, X-ray structures, multi-enzyme complexes, catalysis, mechanisms of action of enzymes and coenzymes, molecular biology, biomembrane studies, surface chemistry and separations.

The first year is devoted mainly to advanced coursework with the opportunity to begin research in the latter part of the year. During the second and subsequent years, the major emphasis is given to research for both MS and PhD students. PhD students begin their examinations for admission to PhD candidacy in their second year. These examinations include both written and oral portions; they are designed to verify the student's competence as an independent scientist.

All MS and PhD research is carried out under the direct supervision of a faculty adviser who serves as the student's preceptor. Many research groups are enriched by the presence of postdoctoral researchers and visiting professors. Graduates are employed by industrial and government laboratories and as research and teaching staff members at colleges and universities across the United States.

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The Electrochemistry Group has research programmes to generate new materials and new electrochemical approaches to energy conversion and storage. This includes research into fuel cells, thermoelectrics, lithium batteries and supercapacitors.

Electrochemistry covers many aspects of fundamental science and large-scale industrial processes. Our group has developed courses that are popular with industry and academia across the world. Our work on the development and application of high-throughput methodologies in electrochemistry has been applied to functional materials discovery for a wide range of applications and for electrode modification in:

• electroanalysis
• biofuel cells

This has resulted in a successful spin-out company, Ilika , with more important work still being sought within chemistry. This includes work with the Advanced Composite Materials Facility . Work in the design of microflow electrolysis cells is enabling efficient laboratory organic synthesis.

Our group is active in the area of templated electrodeposition of nanomaterials and the applications of nanomaterials. Templated electrodeposition technologies, pioneered in Southampton, offer effective routes to new nanostructures which can produce large quantities, or areas, of material at a reasonable cost.

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Professor Andrea Russell

Research interests.

• Structure/property relationships in electrocatalysts
• Development and application of syncrotron based spectroscopic techniques for operando characterisation of electrocatalysts, electrode structures, and electrochemical interfaces
• Development and application of vibrational spectroscopies (IR and Raman) to study electrochemical interfaces and reactions

Email: [email protected]

Address: B29, East Highfield Campus, University Road, SO17 1BJ ( View in Google Maps )

Professor Andrew Hector

• Materials synthesis, including metal nitrides, thin film materials, sol-gel and solvothermal processes and porous structures.
• Materials characterisation – powder and thin film diffraction, microscopy and spectroscopy techniques.
• Electrochemistry, including charge storage in battery and supercapacitor type cells, and electrodeposition of various materials. 

Accepting applications from PhD students

Email: [email protected]

Address: B30, East Highfield Campus, University Road, SO17 1BJ ( View in Google Maps )

Dr Antonia Kotronia

Email: [email protected]

Dr Guy Denuault

• Oxygen reactions in electrocatalysisTheory and applications of nanoelectrodes, microelectrodes and nanostructured microelectrodesTheory and applications of scanning electrochemical microscopyModelling and simulations of electrochemical processes

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Dr Iris Nandhakumar

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Dr Marianna Casavola

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Dr Mark Stockham

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Professor Nuria Garcia-Araez

Email: [email protected]

Dr Peter Birkin

Email: [email protected]

Professor Philip Bartlett

• Bioelectrochemistry
• Templated electrodeposition of nanomaterials

Email: [email protected]

Electrodeposited 2D Transition Metal Dichalcogenides on graphene: a novel route towards scalable flexible electronics

Flexible hybrid thermoelectric materials, in situ high-speed electrochemical sensing of surface cleaning, next generation ammonia synthesis: a highly integrated computational modelling and experimental approach, towards a comprehensive understanding of degradation processes in ev batteries, 069713/z/02/z collaborative res inits grant - e calvo, a highly versatile selective approach for lithium production, a marketable polymer based al-s battery, a russell - catalysis hub, active all-dielectric metamaterials.

My work has centred on the phenomena of cavitation; this is both a fascinating and experimentally challenging arena but ultimately this work has led to a number of exploitable technologies.

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School of Engineering

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SCHOOL OF ENGINEERING

Nanoscale Electrochemistry and Healthcare Systems

Electrochemistry is an enabling science that addresses key problems of major societal relevance, spanning from energy conversion (e.g. fuel cells and solar cells) and energy storage (battery and water splitting technologies), to the development of advanced analytical tools for environmental monitoring and point-of-care medical diagnostics.

This PhD project aims to draw together different spectrum of interfacial science using nanoscale electrochemical approach (i) for the investigation of physicochemical processes at living cells (eg. brain cancer cells) and functional biomaterials (ii) establishing principles and methods to understand the interfacial heterogeneous process or mechanism of the cells and materials (iii) developing strategies to enhance the performance of functional materials for healthcare devices (eg. biosensors and cancer therapy).

This project will provide a platform that will address an important general problem in biotechnology, provides a great opportunity for considerable advances in fundamental measurement science and surface/interfacial science, modelling of electrochemical systems and also develop functional devices for the applications of biomedical device.

This is an ideal project for a PhD student who enjoys problem solving and interdisciplinary research, involving chemistry, biotechnology, microscopy, modelling, and data analysis. There will be a chance to learn many desirable scientific skills of wide applicability, embracing electrochemical methods, microscopy, instrumentation, surface chemistry, scientific programming and data visualization, as well as key transferable skills.

This project is suitable for students with a background in the Life Science, Biology, Chemical Engineering, Chemistry, Biochemistry, Physics, Engineering, Mathematics, Computer Science, Data Science, Machine Learning or Artificial Intelligence. The successful applicants must have (or expect to obtain) at least the equivalent of a UK first or upper second-class degree in a relevant discipline/subject area. The studentship can commence either now or in September 2024, with the possibility of an earlier start based on your availability. Funding may be available on a competitive basis to exceptional student of any citizenship. Applications are welcome to those able to support themselves or with funding already arranged. Such applications will go through the same level of academic assessment.

Further Information: 

How to apply: Please submit your application by clicking on the 'Click Here to Apply Now' button and choosing an appropriate start date.  Please ensure that you include Dr Sharel's name and the project title in your application. Your application should consist of:

• Your CV and publications list (if applicable)

• Your full contact details

• A statement about your research interests

• A copy of the certificate for your Undergraduate Degree and Masters Degree (if applicable)

• Contact details for at least 2 referees

The next stage of the application procedure is an interview with the principal supervisor and another member of Edinburgh academic staff. You are encouraged to apply early before the close of the application window.

You will be notified of the outcome of the interview as soon as possible, normally within 4 weeks.

The University of Edinburgh is committed to equality of opportunity for all its staff and students, and promotes a culture of inclusivity. Please see details here: https://www.ed.ac.uk/equality-diversity

Closing Date: 

Click here to Apply Now

Principal Supervisor: 

Dr Peisan Sharel E

Assistant Supervisor: 

Dr Stewart Smith

Eligibility: 

Essential Experience:

• BSc and/or Masters Degree in Chemical Engineering, Chemistry, Biochemistry, Physics, Engineering, Biology, Mathematics, Computer Science, Data Science, Machine Learning or Artificial Intelligence

• a minimum 2:1 undergraduate degree (or equivalent)

• Excellent spoken and written English and good communication skills (please see here for further information on  English language requirements for EU/Overseas applicants )

• Experience using modelling and simulation techniques

• Literature surveys, documentation and reporting

Funding: 

Tuition fees and stipend are available for Home/EU and International students - open to all UK and non-UK students globally. Applications are also welcomed from self-funded students, or students who are applying for scholarships from the University of Edinburgh or elsewhere.

Further information and other funding options .

Informal Enquiries: 

[email protected]

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Electrochemistry

Parent category, ubc researchers conducting research in electrochemistry, bizzotto, dan, department of chemistry, faculty of science.

Faculty (G+PS eligible/member)

Electroanalytical chemistry; Electrochemistry; Colloid and surface chemistry; Electrochemical Systems; Surface Characterization; Surfaces, Interfaces and Thin Layers; Sensors and Devices; Electrochemical and Fuel Cells; biosensors; electrocatalysis; fluorescence microscopy; interfacial analysis; self assembled monolayers; spectroelectrochemistry

Wilkinson, David

Department of chemical & biological engineering, faculty of applied science.

Chemical engineering; Electrochemistry; carbon dioxide conversion; clean and sustainable energy and water; Electrochemistry, electrocatalysis, electrochemical power sources, advanced electrolysis,; hydrogen production and storage; solar fuels; waste water and drinking water treatment

Student & Alumni Stories in Electrochemistry

Arman Hejazi

Master of Applied Science in Chemical and Biological Engineering (MASc)

Development of a point-of-use water treatment system for organic contaminant degradation

Fatemeh Asadi Zeidabadi

Doctor of Philosophy in Chemical and Biological Engineering (PhD)

Electrochemical degradation of per- and poly-fluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) from water

French Name

French description, sign up for an information session to connect with students, advisors and faculty from across ubc and gain application advice and insight..

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92 phd-position-electrochemistry PhD scholarships

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Open PhD . position - Chemistry and electrochemistry of rare earth elements in molten fluorides: recycling and recovery

of the corresponding university Selection process Entrance examination (online interview) in June 2024 Additional comments Send a CV (Europass template) and short motivation for offered PhD position to contact person

PhD position | Sustainable Energy Materials | Electrochemistry

PhD position | Sustainable Energy Materials | Electrochemistry 30.06.2023, Wissenschaftliches Personal We test novel catalysts for sustainable energy conversion processes such as polymer electrolyte

PhD in nano-bio- electrochemistry (M/F) – Single-impact electrochemistry coupled to luminescence for detecting soft entities

2024 Is the job funded through the EU Research Framework Programme? Not funded by an EU programme Is the Job related to staff position within a Research Infrastructure? No Offer Description The goal

PhD (M/F) in Optical control of electrocatalytic reaction mechanism for renewable energy storage

the catalytic cycle and therefore tune the selectivity of reactions on demand. This PhD project is at the interface between condense matter physics and electrochemistry and will develop and implement optical

Several PhD Positions (m/f/d) | Interfacial Ionics Group

/research-groups/interfacial-ionics ) is looking for several PhD studentsin electrochemistry that are being hired as part of the ERC Starting Grant ORION . The projects cover ionic processes that occur inside

PhD Studentship: Leverhulme Trust PhD project: Lawn grass microbial fuel cells for widespread energy

statistical skills. Beyond scientific expertise, the program hones teamwork, critical thinking, and time management, offering scholarly exchanges within a vibrant PhD community. This comprehensive skill set

time management, offering scholarly exchanges within a vibrant PhD community. This comprehensive skill set equips candidates for diverse career opportunities upon program completion. For informal

PhD position - Development of advanced electrolyte components and resulting electrolyte formulations for lithium ion battery applications

science, physics or a comparable field of study Background knowledge and proven interest in the field of electrochemistry Fluent in spoken and written German as well as English Willingness to get familiar

PhD Studentship - Enzyme Cascades Controlled in the Electrochemical Leaf for Discovery in Antimicrobial Strategy

Research theme: Electrochemical control of nanoconfined enzymes How to apply: uom.link/pgr-apply-fap This 3.5 year PhD project is funded by the Department of Chemistry. The funding is open to home

PhD position – Theory and modelling of electrochemical transport and reaction phenomena in nanoporous materials

between electrokinetic transport, surface charging, and interfacial reactivity under nanoconfinement is essential for the optimal design of next-generation ECL materials. As a PhD candidate at Theory and

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Oregon Center for Electrochemistry

Leaders in Electrochemical Science and Engineering focusing on Research, Education and Innovation.

Ph.D. Program

The Oregon Center for Electrochemistry supports a rigorous and exciting Ph.D. research program.

There are three paths into the Ph.D. program.

Traditional Ph.D. Track: Students apply to the chemistry (or physics) PhD program. Chemistry PhD students typically do three 11-week research rotations in three different research groups during their first year while serving as graduate teaching assistants and taking coursework relevant to their research interests. PhD students joining OCE laboratories typically help teaching in the electrochemistry graduate program coursework periodically as senior students, but are primarily supported by research grants.

Industry Internship Ph.D. Track: Students apply to the M.S. internship program, completing the 6 months of immersive coursework and 9 month paid industry internship. At any point during or after the M.S. program, students discuss transferring to the Ph.D. program with OCE faculty. Students accepted to the Ph.D. program from the M.S. program do not need to take additional coursework and move directly to a faculty research group on an accelerated Ph.D. timeline. They are typically supported by grant funding, while also helping periodically in the graduate electrochemistry coursework.

External Ph.D. Track: Students apply to the M.S. internship program, completing the 6 months of immersive coursework and 9 month paid industry internship. Student then discuss with their industry or national laboratory supervisor, and OCE faculty, the possibility of earning a Ph.D. while remaining employed external to the University of Oregon. Students commit a portion of their time while employed externally and physically offsite from UO campus to publishable research. PhD thesis committees are established and the student completes all PhD requirements typically remotely, though travel stipends are provided for occasional visits to campus as needed. Students graduate with a PhD after completing a body of published research consistent with the standards in their field of study.  Students on this track are supported financially by the external sponsoring company or national laboratory.

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Electrochemical Techniques for Onsite Surface Qualification

Pharmaceutical critical utilities are typically built of 316L stainless steel; nevertheless, surface degradation has been reported due to the occurrence of different phenomena. This article aims to explain how field electrochemical techniques using a portable tool can be an effective method for surface inspection, qualification, and monitoring. The surface finish assessment considered different average roughness, obtained by mechanical polishing and electropolishing, and whether the surface was chemically passivated or not, to generate distinct passive films. This was done to prove the sensitivity of the field electrochemical tool using corrosion techniques.

Explanation of the Techniques Used

The corrosion techniques used included open circuit potential (OCP), cyclic potentiodynamic polarization (CPP), and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS). X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) measurements were performed to characterize the oxide film properties. EIS and XPS demonstrated a close match in terms of oxide thickness determination (R2 > 0.90), and it is worth highlighting the agreement between the chromium to iron (Cr:Fe) ratio and the polarization resistance quantified by XPS and EIS, respectively. In this article, the influences of surface finish techniques on passive film properties and corrosion performance are discussed.

Pharmaceutical 316L Stainless Steel Usage

The fine chemical industries, such as pharmaceutical and food-grade aseptic sectors, are used to facing challenges related to the expectations of consumers, price constraints, and strict regulatory requirements. In this scenario, the corrosion and surface contamination of the processing plant equipment plays an important role, as it can compromise product quality and requires adequate selection of the materials, a proper surface finish process, and periodic maintenance. 1

Stainless steel is widely used in pharmaceutical and food-grade industries due to its resistance to corrosion and oxidation, advanced mechanical strength at high temperatures, weldability, and relatively low cost. 2 ,   3 ,   4 ,   5  Critical process utilities normally are built using 316L stainless steel due to its excellent passivation properties, 6  although it is not immune to corrosion phenomena, 7 ,   8  rouge contamination, 9  and biofilm adhesion 10 ,   11 ,   12  after long-term exposure to industrial processes.

The passivation efficiency of 316L stainless steel depends on its passive film characteristics such as microstructure, surface morphology, oxide layer thickness and uniformity, semiconducting properties, and passivity breakdown in the bioprocess. 13 ,   14 ,   15 ,   16 ,   17  These characteristics change according to the surface finish process; thus, critical utility equipment is designed to achieve a clean and smooth surface that provides high corrosion resistance.

The American Society of Mechanical Engineers: Bioprocessing Equipment (ASME BPE) 18  code specifies the process contact surface finish requirements and acceptance criterion, where the surface finish can be prepared by mechanical polishing or electropolishing. Moreover, a modified passive film by chemical passivation treatment is required according to this code for bioprocess utilities.

The passive film on the surface is a naturally formed 1–3 nanometer (nm) thick layer consisting of chromium-rich oxide/hydroxide phases, whose composition, thickness, and protective action changes dynamically with bioprocessing time. 1 ,   12  The passive film modified by chemical passivation treatment results in a more resistant surface oxide layer compared to the naturally formed passive film. Indeed, 316L stainless steel passivated surfaces are reported as Cr-rich oxide layers in the form of chromium oxide (Cr 2 O 3 ), which are mainly responsible for the high passivation ability. 14 ,   19 ,   20 ,   21

The main concerns about the use of 316L stainless steel is corrosion damage and the release of metal ions into the processed fluids, which can be hazardous for the end users. Therefore, bioprocess equipment is required to have passivated surfaces instead of natural passive films. 1 ,   18

However, as there is no field tool and technique available to quantify and qualify the passive film properties, the industrial practices for chemical passivation treatment are not able to assess the efficacy of these treatments. In fact, the ASME BPE code describes electrochemical techniques such as EIS as an advanced tool to measure the passivation property and corrosion resistance of the passivated surface, though the technology is not yet ready for field use. 18

This article aims to elucidate how electrochemical techniques can be applied in field surface finish inspections as an advanced tool for the surface qualification and monitoring of 316L stainless steel tanks and pipelines. It is worth emphasizing that the field electrochemical techniques need to be sensitive enough to differentiate the properties of surface finishes and therefore OCP, CPP, and EIS have been applied. XPS was used to characterize the passive film in terms of oxide chemical composition, thickness, and Cr:Fe ratio.

Methods to Qualify Internal Surface Finish

Portable electrochemical minicells have been used to perform surface inspection inside 316L stainless steel tanks to qualify the internal surface finish through the application of electrochemical techniques. 22  The most common surface finish applied to stainless steel tanks was assessed by the portable electrochemical minicell, as shown in Table 1, to prove the tool sensitivity for surface inspection. Each surface finish has an individual Cr:Fe ratio and consequently a specific electrochemical response is expected.

The surface finishing was performed using mechanical polishing, chemical passivation treatment (American Society for Testing and Materials ASTM A380  23 ), electropolishing (EP) according to ASTM B912, 36  and a combination of passivation, as can be seen in Table 1. The XPS and electrochemical measurements were carried out using 1 cm 2 area of a mockup of the finished surface. Additionally, electrochemical tests were employed in practical field inspections of stainless steel tanks. The reproducibility of the electrochemical tests, comparing bench and field measurements, was validated in a previous work. 22

Electrochemical techniques are recognized as the most advanced methods of stainless steel surface characterization. 18 ,   24 ,   25 ,   26  Previous studies described the importance of assessing passivated surfaces applying OCP and CPP, Cr-depleted zones, and sensitization (especially for welds) via double-loop electrochemical potentiokinetic reactivation (DL-EPR). 7 ,   8 ,   12  In this article, the field EIS as an onsite technique for passive film properties characterization is introduced.

The portable electrochemical minicell is a portable surface tester capable of quantifying the passive film properties and the corrosion resistance of 316L stainless steel tanks and pipelines. It works as a conventional three-electrodes minicell using a silver chloride electrode (Ag|AgCl|KCl 3 mol/L) as the reference electrode and platinum (Pt) wire as counter electrode that was designed to be used in onsite inspection services. 22

During inspection activities for tanks, the minicell enables multiple measurements in confined spaces to be obtained using a multichannel potentiostat/minicell system. A vacuum cup system was designed to attach the minicell in all positions on the steel surface with a 1.7 millimeter (mm) diameter capillary pair to the tank surface, which was used as the working electrode. Figure 1 shows the portable electrochemical minicell in a field inspection.

Using the portable electrochemical minicell tool in situ, EIS data were recorded in 3.5% mass by volume (m/v) sodium chloride (NaCl) solution at (30±2)°C. The impedance spectra were generated by applying a sinusoidal signal of amplitude 10 millivolt (mV) over the frequency range 0.01 hertz (Hz) to 100 kilohertz (kHz). The resultant spectra were analyzed using the PStrace 5.9 software.

CPP tests were carried out to measure the passivation level and the pitting corrosion resistance in 3.5% (m/v) NaCl solution at (30±2)°C. After stabilization of the open circuit potential (OCP), an anodic polarization scan was performed at a sweep rate of 2.0 mV s 1 . The anodic scan was reversed after it reached one of the criteria:

(a) current density of 1 milliampere per square centimeter (mA cm 2 ) or (b) potential of 1 volt (V). Then the inspected surfaces were scanned in the cathodic direction to a potential of –200 mV vs. OCP.

Table 2 summarizes the period of evaluation and its respective type of inspection, describing the inspection objective and electrochemical technique for surface inspection. The passivation properties and corrosion resistance of 316L stainless steel were based on literature to specify the acceptance criterion. 7 ,   27

The surface elemental analysis of the samples with different surface treatment was carried out by XPS using a commercial spectrometer (UNI-SPECS UHV) at base pressure lower than 10 –7 Pa.

Open circuit potential and CPP curves in 3.5% (m/v) NaCl solution at (30±2)°C were performed after reaching a stable OCP for all surface finishes and the performance parameters are presented in Figure 2. In Figure 2, each figure shows the CPP curves of the surfaces in the conditions as polished and passivated. All polarization curves showed a passive behavior during the anodic scan. The surface performance was quantified based on the CPP parameters shown in Table 3: corrosion potential (E corr ), pitting corrosion (E pit ), corrosion protection (E prot ), and passivation current density (i pass ).

It is worth analyzing what sort of hysteresis was observed during the positive or negative potential reversal. The hysteresis behavior shows either pitting growth or surface repassivation, findings which have been discussed in a previous paper. 7  Based on the electrochemical parameters, it is safe to state that the mechanical polished surfaces generated inferior passivation properties, whereas the electropolished surface significantly decreases the passivation current density and increases the pitting resistance. Nevertheless, mechanical and electropolished surfaces have registered the pitting corrosion in a potential range of 300–600 mV and 600–900 mV, respectively. Furthermore, a positive hysteresis was observed after reversing the potential scan, indicating that the pitting continues to grow. In contrast, the passivated surfaces presented a higher corrosion resistance evidenced by the absence of pitting potential, reduced passivation current density, and negative hysteresis.

Figure 2: Cyclic potentiodynamic polarization curves obtained for 316L stainless steel in 3.5% (m/v) NaCl, at (30 ± 2)°C, and 2.0 mV s-1 of A: 0.8 μm as-grinded and passivated surface; B: 0.3 μm as-electropolished and passivated surface; C: 0.2 μm as-grinded and passivated surface; and D: 0.05 μm as-electropolished and passivated surface.

The passivation level (PL) represents the andic passivation range of the material (equation 1) based on the electrochemical parameters derived from the CPP curves: corrosion potential (Ecorr) and corrosion protection potential (E prot ). If E prot is nobler than E corr , there is a potential range where the passive film is stable and localized corrosion such as pitting, crevice, or cracking will not develop or grow. 24  The acceptance criterion for the PL, according to equation 1, is 350 mV7. The corrosion resistance parameters obtained from the OCP and CPP curves in 3.5% NaCl were performed after 12 months of reactor operation and are summarized in Table 3.

\(\text{(1)}PL = E_{prot}-E_{corr} \)

Figure 3 shows optical micrographs for 316L stainless steel scanned surface area after CPP testing. It shows stable pits for grinded and electropolished surfaces (see Figure 3A and 3B), whereas the passivated surfaces remained pitting-free (see Figure 3C).

EIS spectra in the Nyquist representation recorded during immersion in the 3.5% (m/v) NaCl at (30±2)°C are reported in Figure 4. They are portions of depressed semicircles, that can be fitted with the simple EEC model for a compact film, 1  as can be seen in Figure 4, where R el is the electrolyte resistance, R P is the polarization resistance and CPE is a constant phase element introduced to account for the heterogeneity of oxide layer which cannot be represented by a pure capacitance.

EIS spectra were fitted using an R(R CPE ) EEC. The passive film thickness was estimated according to the power law mode 28  to be in the range of 1–3 nm, in agreement with previously reported values. 1 ,   21  The fitting parameters, reported in Table 4, suggest that RP was substantially increased in the case of passivation treatment for all surface finishes (mechanical and electropolished).

Furthermore, the best-fit exponent ( n ) of the constant phase element yields values < 1, as expected for passive films on stainless steel. 1 , 29  As seen in equation 2, this behavior is explained by the formation of a passive film with a resistivity gradient going from the metal–oxide interface to the oxide–electrolyte interface, where Q vs. n can be described according to the power law model: 30

where ε is the passive film dielectric constant, ε 0 is the vacuum permittivity (8.8542 x 10 −14 F cm −1 ), δ is the oxide layer thickness, ρδ is the resistivity of the oxide at the oxide–solution interface, and g is a numerical function given by:  29

\(\text{(3)}g = 1 + 2.88(1 - n)^2.375 \)

Considering that the CPE results from a dielectric response of the material, it allows us to determine the film thickness, d , in terms of an effective capacitance and dielectric constant, e , according to: 28

Combining equations 2 and 4 yields an expression for the effective capacitance as: 30 ,   31

The passive film thickness estimated assuming a dielectric constant of chromium and iron oxide of 12 and ρδ = 500 Ω cm 1  is shown in Table 4.

The mechanical polished surface demonstrated a passive film thickness between 2.1–2.3 nm, whereas the values of the electropolished surface were thinner in the range of 1.5–2.1 nm. As a rule, all passivated surfaces were reported to have the thinnest passive film of about 0.9–1.4 nm, showing the highest passivation properties and corrosion resistance. 19  This is explained by the fact that the naturally formed passive film has a nonuniform Cr-rich layer and a thicker Fe-rich oxide and hydroxide, whereas the passive film modified by passivation treatment is composed of a thin, uniform, and compact Cr-rich oxide layer. 6 ,   13 ,   14

The obtained passive film thickness values were confirmed by XPS analysis resulting from the exponential attenuation of the metallic Fe 2p3/2 peak intensity. A comparison of the layer thicknesses in Table 4 obtained by both techniques shows a close match between the values, using two independent methods. To investigate the elemental composition and identify the phases that form the passive layer a quantitative analysis of the deconvoluted XPS spectra was performed. Table 5 displays the atomic percentages of the metallic elements for different treatment conditions, including the as-received alloy as reference and highlighting the Cr to Fe ratio.

Surface qualification of 316L stainless steel tanks using field electrochemical measurements via portable electrochemical minicell was applied as a promising tool to ensure high product quality. The bioprocessing tanks are required to be submitted to a surface qualification process before introducing them to the industrial process, and ASME BPE code describes the electrochemical techniques as an advanced inspection method, although this technology is not yet ready for field inspections. As a complementary technique, XPS measurements are allowed to characterize the passive film, supporting the efficacy of portable electrochemical minicells for field surface inspection.

Comparing the corrosion resistance performance of the different treatments, it is safe to state that the passivated surface reached the highest parameters for all conditions, highlighting an approved PL quite superior of the acceptance criterion of 350 mV. In addition, it is worth pointing out that the absence of pitting corrosion and the negative hysteresis running in a quite reduced passivation current density confirms that the passive film is composed by Cr-rich and uniform oxide. 14 ,  15 ,   20 ,   24 ,   32 ,   33 ,   34 , 35  On the other hand, an ASTM B912 36  electropolished surface did not perform as resistant as expected considering that ASME BPE specify that the electropolished surfaces are considered as passivated.

Figure 4: EIS spectra in Nyquist representation recorded during immersion in 3.5% (m/v) NaCl for 316L stainless steel passive fi lm with surface fi nish: A: 0.8 μm grinded and 0.8 μm grinded and passivated; B: 0.3 μm electropolished and 0.3 μm electropolished and passivated; C: 0.2 μm grinded and 0.2 μm grinded and passivated; and D: 0.05 μm electropolished and 0.05 μm electropolished and passivated.

However, the maximum corrosion resistance was obtained when combining the electropolishing process with the chemical passivation treatment in sequence. The grinded surface finish is a concern due to the poor pitting potential, a nonacceptable PL, and a high passivation current density. On the other hand, electropolished surface and grinded surface finishes were improved in terms of corrosion resistance by the chemical passivation, achieving acceptable PL after the treatment.

XPS measurements demonstrated that the passive films on 316L austenitic stainless steel had a structure as previously described, which consists of an inner region composed of a Cr-rich oxide layer (Cr 2 O 3 ) in contact with the metallic substrate, whereas the outermost layer is composed of Cr(OH) 3 and Fe-rich oxides and hydroxides: iron(II) oxide (FeO), iron(III) oxide (Fe 2 O 3 ), iron(III) oxide-hydroxide (FeOOH).

Besides these iron species, magnetite (Fe 3 O 4 ) and Fe (OH) 2 were also reported to compose this layer. 14 ,   15 ,   37 ,   38 ,   39 ,   40 ,   41  However, a closer look at the data obtained for different surface treatments revealed distinct features. On mechanical polished surfaces grew a natural passive film, with a thick oxide layer in a range of 2.4–2.8 nm, chemically characterized as Fe-rich oxides with a low Cr:Fe ratio of about 0.6 (see Tables 4 and 5).

When compared to the mechanical polished surfaces, the electropolished surfaces grew a thinner (1.5–2.3 nm) and more Cr-rich passive film, resulting in a Cr:Fe ratio of 1.6–2.3 nm. The latter value highlights the 0.3µm-EP sample. Even though electropolished surfaces provided an improved passive oxide when compared to the mechanical polished surfaces, it is important to note that in both cases an Fe-rich and nonuniform passive film was formed on the surface, as indicated by the breakdown potential in cyclic polarization tests.

The main hypothesis taken into consideration is the fact that the mechanical and electropolishing processes promoted the growth of the Fe-rich layer. 18 ,   20  On the other hand, the passive film modified by chemical passivation treatment provided the highest passivation properties with the Cr:Fe ratio of up to 2.5 nm (see Table 5) due to the selective dissolution of iron. The layer consists mainly of Cr 2 O 3 and Cr (OH) 3 phases, which are responsible for the high corrosion resistance 41  (see Table 4). These surfaces showed the thinnest passive film being in the range of 1.0–1.7 nm, containing a reduced quantity of Fe oxides, a small fraction of Mo oxides, and traces of nickel and Mn oxides.

Portable electrochemical minicell is a portable tool used to measure the passivation properties and corrosion resistance of stainless steel tank surfaces in field conditions. This work demonstrates that, using portable electrochemical inspection techniques, an accurate onsite tank surface performance can be determined in terms of corrosion resistance and passivation parameters.

The results are consistent with those obtained by XPS, confirming the passive film thickness values obtained by EIS, and associating the high corrosion resistance, obtained from the OCP and CPP curves, to the distinct structure of the thin passive layer. These notable results are shown in Figures 5 and 6. Figure 5 displays a linear trendline correlating the passive film thickness determined by both techniques with R-squared values > 0.90, which represents a good fit to the data.

Additionally, as can be seen in Figure 6, a parabolic relation between polarization resistance and Cr:Fe ratio was found in a preliminary assessment. This demonstrated the great potential of the portable electrochemical minicell technique for field surface qualification. However, further studies are needed to establish this method as the standard test for stainless steel tanks.

The portable electrochemical minicell’s efficacy was tested through the inspection of different surface finishes of 316L stainless steel typically applied in tanks and facilities. Table 6 shows the conclusions according to the performance perspective of the portable tool. Field electrochemical measurements applying EIS technique has proven to be accurate in determining passive film properties, and it can be a powerful tool for qualification and monitoring of the passivation properties of stainless steel surfaces.

Acknowledgments

The authors would like to thank the São Paulo Research Foundation (FAPESP) for providing financial support for this research (Proc. no. 2021/11684-4).

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