Chapter 2
Electrochemistry and Electrodeposition
2.1 The Goal of This Overview
It may sound trivial that a book published as a volume of an electrochemistry book
series does not need an introduction dealing with electrochemistry. The author really
wishes it could be true. However, in spite of the large number of presently available
electrochemistry books, there are only very few that deal with the important aspects
of the metal deposition process [1–6], the dissolution of metals [7] and miscellaneous
materials science aspects of electrochemistry [8, 9]. These works mostly focus on
general aspects of the topic of choice and not all can be readily used as a primary
source concerning electrochemical nanostructure formation. For the above reasons,
a short but essential summary is offered here to the reader for sparing much time in
the further literature search as well as clarifying the terms used hereinafter.
The terms used throughout this book are meant to be in accord with the IUPAC
recommendations as they are defined in the Electrochemical Dictionary [10], a
comprehensive source of definitions and historical descriptions.
2.2 Charge Transfer in Heterogeneous Electrochemical
Systems
Electrochemistry deals with chemical processes where charged species are involved.
We can speak about electrochemical reactions where charge transfer takes place
between chemical species. If the charge transfer occurs between species that are a
part of different phases, we encounter heterogeneous electrochemistry (also often
termed as interfacial electrochemistry, but the latter term is difficult to use if there
is no well-defined single interface or if multiple interfaces occur in a heterogeneous
system). The phases involved in a heterogeneous electrochemical reaction may be
similar or different concerning the charge carriers. If two non-miscible liquids, each
containing ionic solutes (i.e., electrolytes) and hence exhibiting ionic conductance,
© Springer Nature Switzerland AG 2021
L. Péter, Electrochemical Methods of Nanostructure Preparation,
Monographs in Electrochemistry, https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-69117-2_2
11
Electrochemistry and Electrodeposition
2.1 The Goal of This Overview
It may sound trivial that a book published as a volume of an electrochemistry book
series does not need an introduction dealing with electrochemistry. The author really
wishes it could be true. However, in spite of the large number of presently available
electrochemistry books, there are only very few that deal with the important aspects
of the metal deposition process [1–6], the dissolution of metals [7] and miscellaneous
materials science aspects of electrochemistry [8, 9]. These works mostly focus on
general aspects of the topic of choice and not all can be readily used as a primary
source concerning electrochemical nanostructure formation. For the above reasons,
a short but essential summary is offered here to the reader for sparing much time in
the further literature search as well as clarifying the terms used hereinafter.
The terms used throughout this book are meant to be in accord with the IUPAC
recommendations as they are defined in the Electrochemical Dictionary [10], a
comprehensive source of definitions and historical descriptions.
2.2 Charge Transfer in Heterogeneous Electrochemical
Systems
Electrochemistry deals with chemical processes where charged species are involved.
We can speak about electrochemical reactions where charge transfer takes place
between chemical species. If the charge transfer occurs between species that are a
part of different phases, we encounter heterogeneous electrochemistry (also often
termed as interfacial electrochemistry, but the latter term is difficult to use if there
is no well-defined single interface or if multiple interfaces occur in a heterogeneous
system). The phases involved in a heterogeneous electrochemical reaction may be
similar or different concerning the charge carriers. If two non-miscible liquids, each
containing ionic solutes (i.e., electrolytes) and hence exhibiting ionic conductance,
© Springer Nature Switzerland AG 2021
L. Péter, Electrochemical Methods of Nanostructure Preparation,
Monographs in Electrochemistry, https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-69117-2_2
11