EVE 5130 Study Guide - Midterm Guide: Chemical Reaction, Reaction Rate, Overpotential

• School: Wayne State University
• Department: Electric-drive Vehicle Engineering
• Course: EVE 5130
• Professor: Kapila Wadu- Mesthrige

Document Summary

Electro chemical reaction: the voltage generated depends on the thermodynamic properties of the reaction, current generated depends on the rate of chemical reaction. Problems with the traditional cells: low contact area, large distance between electrodes, liquid electrolytes. Ways to increase the reaction rate: use catalyst. Increase the electrode area high surface area. Kinetic voltage losses are due to electrochemical reaction rates. Electron transfer is mostly affected by the ionic resistance and electronic resistance along with the mass transfer rate across through the electrodes. Electrode reactions happen at the electrode electrolyte surface which is called. Activation losses: activation overpotential is dependent on the logarithm of the current density, tafel equation relates the rate of the chemical reaction to the overpotential. The current density when the oxidation and reduction reactions are at equilibrium and the overpotential is just above the zero value. Depends on: catalyst surface area and loading, reactant partial pressure, temperature.