Advanced Electrochemical Materials Homework #6

1 The below Tafel curves are the mild steel in 1.0 M H2SO4 with 0.25 mM of the
corrosion inhibitor at different temperatures [Materials 2014, 7(2), 787-804,
doi:10.3390/ma7020787]. Please calculate i0, k0, α and Rct from Tafel plot at 30oC.

2 The saturated calomel electrode (SCE) is generally used as a reference electrode,

which its redox reaction is:
𝐻𝑔2 𝐶𝑙2 + 2𝑒 − ⇄ 2𝐻𝑔(𝑙) + 2𝐶𝑙 − 𝐸 0 = 0.2682 𝑉
This redox reaction is generally carried out in a KCl solution. The activity
coefficient of 𝐶𝑙 − is unity for Q2.1 and Q2.2.
2.1 If [KCl] is 3.5 M, what is the equilibrium potential of SCE?
2.2 If [KCl] is saturated, what is the equilibrium potential of SCE? The Ksp
(solubility product) of KCl is 21.7 M2.
2.3 The real values of SCE in 3.5 M and saturated KCl solution are 0.2500 V and
0.2444 V, respectively. Please give the reason about the differences between
the real values and the calculated values from Q2.1 and Q2.2.
3 Graphene, discovered in 2004, has excellent property for electrochemical
probing. The multilayer graphene nanoflake films were performed in the
solution containing 5 mM Fe(CN)63-/4- [1] with electrode area of 0.196 cm2,
please the answer the following questions:
 3.1 Is it reversible, quasi-reversible or irreversible reaction? Please explain the
reason.
3.2 Plot the square root of scan rates vs. anodic peaks (Ip,a) and cathodic peaks
(Ip,c).
3.3 Is it diffusion-controlled or kinetic-controlled reaction? Please explain the
reason.
3.4 Calculate DO.
3.5 Calculate E1/2.
4 A redox reaction of 1 mM A2+/A3+ demonstrates the LSV curves on a 0.196 cm2
platinum electrode, showing the peak currents of 0.16, 0.22, 0.32, 0.50, 0.59 and
0.71 mA at the scan rates of 5, 10, 20, 50, 70 and 100 mV/s, respectively.
4.1 Plot the peak currents vs. the square root of scan rates.
4.2 Determine DO from the slope of Figure 2.1.

[1] N.G. Shang, P. Papakonstantinou, M. McMullan, M. Chu, A. Stamboulis, A.

Potenza, S.S. Dhesi, H. Marchetto, Advanced Functional Materials, 18 (2008) 3506-
3514.