• Teach the fundamentals of electrochemical science, infrared and Raman spectroscopy
• Motivate the module focus on interfaces by drawing on examples from the current literature and modern spectroscopic methods
• Teach the analysis and evaluation of experimental data obtained from electroanalytical or spectroscopic methods
• Teach students some state-of-the-art techniques in interfacial electrochemistry and spectroscopy
• Teach ideal scenarios in interface science to provide a grounding for students to understand limitations of techniques taught

(LO1) To critically analyse and evaluate traditional and modern electrochemical techniques.

(LO2) To understand the application of electrochemistry in a variety of fields and be able to suggest a methodology suited to the problem.

(LO3) To critically analyse and evaluate traditional and modern vibrational spectroscopy techniques.

(LO4) To critically compare different methods of spectroscopy and their suitability to tackle a particular problem.

(LO5) To critically evaluate the use of ether electrochemical or spectroscopic techniques to support scientific conclusions based on literature.

(S1) Critical thinking – To use knowledge and understanding of electrochemical or spectroscopic principles to evaluate electrochemical or spectroscopic data

(S2) Problem solving – To use data and information about an interface to answer questions about that interface’s behaviour in electrochemistry or spectroscopy

(S3) Numeracy skills – To use mathematics and numeracy to quantitatively solve problems in electrochemistry and spectroscopy

(S4) Information skills – critical reading of literature

Lectures: 31 lectures (first one joint, then 15 for electrochemistry and 15 for spectroscopy), to be complemented by two revision lectures at the end of term.

Workshops: 3 x 2 hr, supporting the material presented at the lectures and its application for solving problems.
There are workshops on electrochemistry, spectroscopy and a joint one.
In each workshop students complete a question with assistance from demonstrators, and later submit a second piece of work, done individually.
Questions will cover fundamentals, background, practice and more advanced problems.

Presentation and synopsis: Students are assigned an individual publication to study in the area of interfacial electrochemistry or spectroscopy (student choice) and asked to record a 10 min presentation on the publication, including a 500 word synopsis. Students are asked uncover the principles taught in lectures in this piece of work using guided questions e.g. What does the data show? What relevan ce does this data or scenario have in terms of electrochemistry, or surface selection rules? What other factors could potentially affect this data? How would you test for these?

*Lectures: 31 hr
*Workshops: 6 hr

Interfacial Electrochemistry
1. The Electrochemical Interface: Description and Models
2. The Dynamics of Electrochemical Reactions
3. Electrocatalysis and fuel cells
4. Slow electron transfer and other rate controlling steps.
5. Corrosion
6. Metal electrochemical deposition
7. Potentiometric sensors
8. Potentiodynamic methods in electroanalysis
9. Voltammetric sensors
10. Electrochemical impedance spectroscopy
11. Introduction to electrochemical surface science
12. Literature examples: Molecular and ion adsorption.
13. Literature examples: Examples could include lithium/oxygen battery electrochemistry or the oxidation of organic fuels.

Interfacial Spectroscopy
1. Basics of IR spectroscopy
2. Molecular symmetry and orientation; orientation at interfaces
3. Basics of infrared reflection spectroscopy
4. Orientation at metal surfaces
5. Plasmons
6. Basics of surface enhanced IR spectroscopy
7. Identity and adsorption site from vibrational spectroscopy
8. Basics of Raman spectroscopy
9. Basics of surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy
10. Orientation from surface-enhanced Raman spectra
11. Quantification in IR and Raman spectroscopy
12. Surface enhanced spectroscopies in the literature