Study On The Working Principle Of Three-dimensional Electrode System

The model apparatus of a virtual electrolytic cell was installed in this paper by using two small plate electrodes and wires to simulate real particles. Particle electric current and particle electrode potential were measured with an electrochemical workstation, and the experimental parameters were optimized. The effects of factors, such as voltage, particle spacing, electrolyte concentration and particle number on virtual cell voltage, particle electrode potential, particle electric current and electrode current were investigated, and the principles of three-dimensional electrode system were preliminary discussed. Based on the results of this research, the conclusions are drawn as follows:(1) When determining particle electric current and particle electrode potential, it is important to choose proper electric current switch modes and range, to set sampling rate at 2 Hz and filter capacity at 100 pF, respectively. During the measurement, it is also important to ensure that the simulated particles are parallel to the main electrode and vertically placed, that the space between the simulated particles, between the particles and the main electrodes are fixed, that the experiments are conducted under stirring conditions.(2) There exists a significantly linear relationship between virtual cell voltage and cell voltage. Virtual cell voltage is also positively correlated with electrolyte concentration and particle spacing, but no correlation is found between virtual cell voltage and particle number. Electrolyte concentration and particle number have significant effects on electrode current; increasing electrolyte concentration results in increase of electrode current and decrease of working voltage. Cell voltage and particle spacing are major factors that influence particle electrode potential, with particle electrode potential increasing with increase of cell voltage. Particle electric current increases with increase of cell voltage, electrolyte concentration and particle spacing.(3) The experimental results show that the particles in a three-dimensional system do act as virtual electrolytic cell, in which micro-electrolysis takes place. However, its working principle is not same as the real electrolytic cell.(4) The complex polarization of particles from the same kind of materials in the same three-dimensional electrode system requires similar driving force, which is independent of particle size.(5) Since the ratio of particle length to diameter also has an effect on the efficiency of three-dimensional electrode system, this factor should be considered when determining the optimum conditions of a three-dimensional electrode system.