Department of Electrochemistry is engaged in
fundamental and applied research in the fields of electrocatalysis, surface
electrochemistry, energy conversion, metal deposition and corrosion. Its
intensive scientific activity is evidenced in participation in 11
Yugoslav/Serbian - USA projects, 2 Serbian-Polish projects, 2 EU projects and
more than 20 national projects. Department of Electrochemistry was one of the
pioneers in the field of structural effects in electrocatalysis during 80’s
when oxidation of small organic molecules (methanol and formic acid) and
oxygen reduction reaction were investigated on the platinum and gold single
crystals. This experience is nowadays used in the research of the electrochemical
reactions on the nanocatalysts for the application in the fuel cells with the
proton exchange membrane (PEMFC). Current research in the Institute includes
mostly Pt and Pt-based nanocatalysts supported on high area carbon. Recent
publications encompass the effects of the type of the carbon support, metal
loading, temperature, pH and the anions present in the electrolyte as well as
discussion of the relationship between particle size effect and the
structural sensitivity of the reactions. The activities of the Institute
cover following Scope of research: electrochemical characterization and
catalytic properties of complex compounds, surface and electrochemical
properties of carbon materials, modified glassy carbon and conducting
polymers, development and properties of electrochemical sensors, surface
characterization by ultra high vacuum techniques (AES, XPS) and STM;
conductive oxide materials, electrochemical deposition and dissolution of
metals and alloys. Equipment of the Department
includes: few computer-controlled electrochemical work-stations Voltalab,
AutoLab, BioLogic, several potentiostats (PAR) and bipotentiostats (Pine),
rotating disk and ring disk electrodes, STM/AFM Veeco nanoscope III d
and STM Digital Instruments Nanoscope
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