Hope
College Physics Department
Research Experiences for Undergraduates
Summer 2010
Project Summary
Research Experiences for Undergraduates
Summer 2010
Project Summary
|
Hope
College Physics Department Research Experiences for Undergraduates Summer 2010 Project Summary |
| Project Title: | Characterization of Hydrogen Evolution during Electrodeposition |
| Student Name: | Emily Berger |
| Student's Home Institution: | St. Olaf College |
| Research Advisor: | Dr. Jennifer Hampton |
| Source of Support: | This material is based on work supported by the National Science Foundation under NSF-REU Grant No. PHY/DMR-1004811 and the Hope College Dean for the Natural and Applied Sciences Office. |
During electrodeposition a phenomenon called hydrogen evolution
occurs as a potential difference is applied to the working electrode.
Hydrogen evolution is the phenomenon of water reducing to hydrogen
gas and hydroxide ions. The hydrogen gas forms bubbles on the surface
of the working electrode (a gold covered silicon wafer). As the bubbles
break free they cause fluctuations in the deposition current with time.
A Matlab program was written to analyze the statistics of these current
fluctuations. The Matlab data was used to determine the effects of
potential, pH, and electrolyte concentration on the bubble formation.
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Publications and Presentations:
“Characterization of Hydrogen
Evolution during Electrodeposition", Emily N. Berger and Jennifer R. Hampton.
Contributed poster, Regional Chemistry REU Symposium, Hope College, Holland
MI,
(July 30, 2010).
.