Principles Determining the Voltages and Capacities of Electrochemical Cells

Abstract

In the prior chapter it was shown that the fundamental driving force across an electrochemical cell is the virtual chemical reaction that would occur if the materials in the two electrodes were to react with each other. If the electrolyte is a perfect filter that allows the passage of ionic species, but not electrons, the cell voltage when no current is passing through the system is determined by the difference in the electrically neutral chemical compositions of the electrodes. The identity and properties of the electrolyte and the phenomena that occur at the electrode/electrolyte interfaces play no role. Likewise, it is the properties of the electrodes that determine the capacity of an electrochemical cell.