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 III.