Details of CH4115 (Autumn 2025)
| Level: 4 | Type: Theory | Credits: 4.0 |
| Course Code | Course Name | Instructor(s) |
|---|---|---|
| CH4115 | Chemistry for Alternative Energy Solutions | Sayan Bhattacharyya |
| Preamble |
|---|
| The course will discuss and explain various alternative and renewable techniques for energy conversion based on electrochemistry. Students will learn using the basics of
electrochemistry and its application to develop energy storage devices, such as, batteries, semiconductors and solar cells. |
| Syllabus |
|---|
| 1) Introduction
alternative and renewable energy conversion and storage 2) Electrochemistry voltammetry, reference electrodes, Tafel slope, electrochemically active surface area 3) Electrochemical impedance spectroscopy types of resistance, equivalent circuit, Nyquist & Bode plots 4) Electrocatalytic energy conversion hydrogen fuel production & storage, carbon dioxide reduction, ammonia production, types of electrodes; alkaline and solid oxide fuel cells 5) Photoelectrochemistry semiconductor basics, quantum dots, band bending, p-n junction 6) Photovoltaics first & second-generation solar cells, organic, dye-sensitized, quantum dot sensitized & perovskite solar cells 7) Batteries primary and secondary batteries, lithium-ion and alternatives, metal-air batteries, flow batteries 8) Supercapacitors basic components, double layer, pseudocapacitors, comparison with batteries 9) Thermoelectrics thermoelectric effect, thermionic power conversion, solar thermoelectrics |
| References |
|---|
| (1) Modern Electrochemistry Ionics (Volume I) by J. O M. Bockris and A. K. N. Reddy, Springer,
2006. (2) Modern Electrochemistry Fundamentals of Electrodics (Volume 2A) by J. O M. Bockris, A. K. N. Reddy and M. Gamboa-Aldeco, Springer, 2006. (3) Modern Electrochemistry Electrodics in Chemistry, Engineering, Biology, and Environmental Science (Volume 2B) by J. O M. Bockris and A. K. N. Reddy, Springer, 2006. (4) Applied Photovoltaics (3 rd Edition) by S. R. Wenham, M. A. Green, M. E. Watt, R. Corkish and A. Sproul, EarthScan, 2011. (5) Advanced Batteries Materials Science Aspects by Robert A. Huggins, Boston MA, Springer, 2009 (6) Thermoelectrics: Basic Principles and New Materials Developments by G. S. Nolan, J. Sharp, H. J. Goldsmid, Springer, 2001. |
Course Credit Options
| Sl. No. | Programme | Semester No | Course Choice |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | IP | 1 | Not Allowed |
| 2 | IP | 3 | Not Allowed |
| 3 | IP | 5 | Not Allowed |
| 4 | MP | 1 | Not Allowed |
| 5 | MP | 3 | Elective |
| 6 | MR | 1 | Not Allowed |
| 7 | MR | 3 | Not Allowed |
| 8 | MS | 3 | Not Allowed |
| 9 | MS | 5 | Not Allowed |
| 10 | MS | 7 | Elective |
| 11 | MS | 9 | Elective |
| 12 | RS | 1 | Elective |
| 13 | RS | 2 | Elective |