Research

The field of electrochemistry includes many important practical applications in the energy industry such as storage batteries (Li-ion batteries, Ni-MH batteries...), fuel cells and photovoltaic cells. In heavy industrial fields such as mechanical engineering, metallurgy, oil and gas, corrosion protection for materials and production equipment is extremely important. Especially in the metallurgical industry, high purity metal products mainly use electrolysis. The field of electroplating in Vietnam is also quite popular (there are about 160 plating companies nationwide). This shows that the demand and market for basic and applied research based on electrochemical techniques is huge. For example, research on corrosion problems for pipelines and equipment in the oil and gas industry, maritime, and metallurgical engineering has great demand but has not been given enough attention to research and exploit its full potential due to lack of research. There are in-depth research groups with experience in the field. In terms of basic research, studying the kinetics and reaction mechanism occurring on the electrode is very important in the field of electrolysis and manufacturing catalytic materials for fuel cells, electrode materials for storage batteries as well as such as recycling waste batteries (e.g., recovering metals from Li-ion batteries, recovering Pt and other metals from fuel cell catalysts) and studying the corrosion resistance of materials. However, currently there is no group at Phenikaa University or in Vietnam focusing on the above research areas. Therefore, building a potential research group specializing in the field of electrolysis, manufacturing and evaluating catalytic activity, and recovering metals from waste batteries gives the school more strength in solving problems. applied problems from businesses, strengthen and promote domestic and foreign cooperation, as well as enhance facilities for training and in-depth research. On the other hand, the research field based on environmentally friendly deep eutectic solvent (DES) has been developed by the team leader since 2016 abroad and brought to Vietnam for application since 2019 at Phenikaa University. sees a lot of potential applications in many fields such as energy, materials synthesis, recycling of used batteries... The use of environmentally friendly solvents in the research process helps minimize risks. Risks for operators and strict requirements for waste treatment during experiments are also highlights in the group's construction and development process.

What is Electrochemistry?

Electrochemistry is the branch of physical chemistry concerned with the relationship between electrical potential difference and identifiable chemical change. These reactions involve electrons moving via an electronically-conducting phase (typically an external electrical circuit, but not necessarily, as in electroless plating) between electrodes separated by an ionically conducting and electronically insulating electrolyte (or ionic species in a solution).

When a chemical reaction is driven by an electrical potential difference, as in electrolysis, or if a potential difference results from a chemical reaction as in an electric battery or fuel cell, it is called an electrochemical reaction. Unlike in other chemical reactions, in electrochemical reactions electrons are not transferred directly between atoms, ions, or molecules, but via the aforementioned electronically-conducting circuit. This phenomenon is what distinguishes an electrochemical reaction from a conventional chemical reaction.