Understanding Voltammetry (Third Edition)

The power of electrochemical measurements in respect of thermodynamics, kinetics and analysis is widely recognised but the subject can be unpredictable to the novice even if they have a strong physical and chemical background, especially if they wish to pursue quantitative measurements. Accordingly, some significant experiments are perhaps wisely never attempted while the literature is sadly replete with flawed attempts at rigorous voltammetry.

This textbook considers how to implement designing, explaining and interpreting experiments centered on various forms of voltammetry (cyclic, microelectrode, hydrodynamic, etc.). The reader is assumed to have knowledge of physical chemistry equivalent to Master's level but no exposure to electrochemistry in general, or voltammetry in particular. While the book is designed to stand alone, references to important research papers are given to provide an introductory entry into the literature.

The third edition contains new material relating to electron transfer theory, experimental requirements, scanning electrochemical microscopy, adsorption, electroanalysis and nanoelectrochemistry.

Readership: Researchers and professionals in electrochemistry, batteries, fuel cells, solar cells, analytical chemistry.

Richard G Compton is Professor of Chemistry and Aldrichian Praelector at Oxford University, United Kingdom where he is also Tutor in Chemistry at St John's College. Compton has broad interests in both fundamental and applied electrochemistry and electroanalysis including nanochemical aspects. He is the Physical Chemistry editor of the Oxford Chemistry Primers series which comprises about 100 short texts covering a wide range of essential topics in the undergraduate chemistry curriculum. He has published more than 1300 papers (h = 82; Web of Science, February 2015) and hold numerous patents. He has been Chinese Academy of Sciences Visiting Professor at the Institute of Physical Sciences, Hefei and is a Lifelong Honorary Professor at Sichuan University. He holds Honorary Doctorates from the Estonian Agricultural University and Kharkov National University of Radioelectronics (Ukraine) and is a Fellow of the RSC and of the ISE. He is also a Fellow of the International Union of Pure and Applied Chemistry and a Thomson Reuters Highly Cited Researcher. He is the Founding Editor and Editor-in-Chief of the journal Electrochemistry Communications.

Dr Craig Banks is a senior lecturer in the Manchester Metropolitan University. His academic interests include: Intelligent Electrochemical Sensing, Nano Electrochemistry, Electrochemical Sensors and Nano Composites. His teaching specialism is in Analytical Chemistry with Forensic Applications. He is a Fellow of the Royal Society of Chemistry (FRSC).