Issue in Honor of Dr. Douglas Lloyd ARKIVOC 2002 (iii) 198-218 Sonoelectrochemistry – The application of ultrasound to electrochemical systems David J. Walton School of Science and the Environment, Coventry University, Priory Street, Coventry CV1 5FB, UK E-mail:
[email protected] This paper is dedicated to Douglas Lloyd on the occasion of his eightieth birthday Abstract This paper comprises the text of a review lecture on the subject of the effects of ultrasound upon mass transport, upon electrode surface phenomena, upon the behaviour of species and upon reaction mechanisms, and selected examples of the benefits of insonation in electroanalysis, electrosynthesis, electrodeposition and electrochemiluminescence are discussed. Keywords: Sonoelectrochemistry, ultrasound, acoustics, electrosynthesis, electroanalysis, voltammetry, conducting polymers, electrodeposition, cavitation, reaction mechanisms Introduction Electrochemistry is an old discipline. Faraday worked through the 1830’s, and Kolbe reported his electroorganic synthetic reaction in 1849.1 The vibration of electrochemical cells is likewise a concept of some standing, and Moriguchi reported the improvement of water electrolysis by insonation in 1934.2. Thereafter, sporadic reports can be found on sonoelectrochemistry, although this term was not used as a descriptor until more recently. This period included an extensive study by Yeager upon the physicochemical parameters of ionic solutions.3 Ultrasound ISSN 1424-6376 Page 198 ©ARKAT USA, Inc Issue in Honor of Dr. Douglas Lloyd