Although electrochemistry is taught by the analytical division of the department, the research itself is much broader, including the fields of physical chemistry, materials science and even biological sciences.

The interface between two immiscible solutions (e.g., water and nitrobenzene) containing dissolved electrolytes is a site of an electric potential. This potential can be altered by changing the makeup of the solutions in contact; similarly, the makeup of the solutions can be altered by applied electric current. Judicious choice of applied current or potential can be used to learn about the structure of the interface. Since the interface is very thin, it cannot be observed directly. It can be, in addition to the electrochemical methods, observed indirectly by studying a degree of deflection of a laser beam as it is passed in proximity of the interface. We are also considering future collaboration with the Argonne National Laboratory. There we will investigate the interface between two immiscible solutions using the new powerful UV beam line.

The expertise gained on the immiscible liquid interfaces can be applied also to the studies between solution and a metal. Many metals form on their surfaces layers of oxides. The nature of the oxides is very important in understanding corrosion. The oxides are also very important for the new technology of small very effective capacitors used in electronic industry. Currently we are collaborating with several local industries in the field of aluminum oxide formation and aluminum alloy corrosion.

The noise and impedance measurements that we can perform reliably in our laboratory, are also of interest to corrosion industry. In particular, we are collaborating with a company specializing in manufacturing additives to crude oil pipelines. These additives inhibit corrosion of the steel pipes, hence lowering maintenance cost and possibly protecting the environment from effects of oil spills. We are helping this company in screening the best possible inhibitors.

The motivation for the study of such interfaces is therefore both of theoretical and practical interest. The range of applications is very broad and research in this field is going to be even more important in the future. Some of the areas are:

The equipment base of our laboratory has been built with the financial help of the Office of Naval Research.

Any of these projects are suitable for graduate research (PhD. or M.S.), or for a person interested in postgradual experience. A number of shorter projects is also available for undergraduate research. We have recently relocated to new laboratories with sufficient space for more researchers.

Professional activities

Secretary of the Electrochemical Society
Member of the International Society for Electrochemistry and a local representative (USA)
Member of The Society for Electroanalytical Chemistry member of the Board of Directors

Representative Publications

P. Vanýsek: The Chalkboard: The glass pH electrode. Electrochemical Society Interface  (2004), 13(2),  19-20.

P. Vanýsek: Meeting reports – Paris Attracts Analytical Chemists. Report on the 203^rd Meeting of the Electrochemical Society, held in Paris, France, 26 April – 2 May 2003. Trends in Analytical Chemistry, Vol 22, Nos. 7 + 8, 2003, pp. x-xii.

Basaez, L and Vanysek, P.: Transport studies of beta-lactam antibiotics and their degradation products actoss electrified water/oil interface. J. Pharm. Biomed. Anal., 1999, 19, 183-192.

Janata, J., Josowicz, M., Vanysek, P. DeVaney, D. M.: Chemical Sensors.  Anal. Chem., 1998, 70, 179R-208R.

Birss, V. I., Beck, V. H., Zhang, A. J., Vanysek, P.: Properties of thin, hydrous Pd oxide films. J. Electroanal. Chem., 1997, 429, 175-184.

Vanýsek, P.: Impact of electrode geometry, depth of immersion, and size on impedance measurement. Can. J. Chem., 1997, 75(11), 1635-1642.

Serebrennikova, I., Vanýsek, P., Birss, V. I.: Characterization of porous aluminum oxide films by metal electrodeposition. Electrochim. Acta, 1997, 42 (1), 145-151.

Birss, V. I., Chan, M., Phan, T., Vanýsek, P., Zhang, A.: An electrochemical study of the composition of thin, compact Pd oxide films. J. Chem. Soc., Faraday Trans., 1996, 92 (20), 4041-4047.

Editor of a book: Modern Electroanalytical Techniques, John Wiley, Chemical Analysis Series. Volume 139. J. Winefordner, Ed., New York 1996. Author of one chapter: Liquid-Liquid Electrochemistry, pp. 337-364.

Vanýsek, P: Charge transfer processes on liquid/liquid interfaces: The first century. Electrochimica Acta, 1995, 40 (18), 2841-2847.

Sandí, G.; Vanýsek, P. "Impedance and Voltammetric Studies of Electrogenerated Polyaniline Conducting Film," Synthetic Metals 1994, 64, 1-8.

Vanýsek, P: The Sensor Division: Past, Present and Future. Interface 1994, 3 (4), 19-27.

Vanýsek, P: Interfacial ion transport between immiscible liquids in: M. Blank and I. Vodyanoy (Eds.), Membrane Electrochemistry, Advances in Chemistry Series Vol. 235. p. 55. The American Chemical Society, Washington 1994.

Zhang, A. J., Birss, V. I., Vanýsek, P: Impedance characterization of thin electrochemically formed palladium oxide films. J. Electroanal. Chem. 1994, 378 (1/2), 63-76.

Krejcí, I.; Vanýsek, P. "Effect of Zinc and Iron Ions on the Electrochemistry of Nickel Oxide Electrode: Slow Cyclic Voltammetry," J. Power Sources 1993, 47, 79-88.

Krejcí, I.; Vanýsek, P.; Trojánek, A. "Transport of Zn(OH)₄^2- Ions Across a Polyolefin Microporous Membrane," J. Electrochem. Soc. 1993, 14 (8), 2279-2283.

Vanýsek, P. "Analytical Applications of Electrified Interfaces Between Two Immiscible Solutions," TRAC-Trends in Analytical Chemistry, 1993, 12, 357-363.

Samec, Z.; Trojánek, A.; Vanýsek, P. "Polarization Phenomena at Ionic Membrane/Electrolyte Interfaces. A Nafion Membrane between Two Electrolyte Solutions," J. Electroanal. Chem. 1992, 332, 349-355.

Updated 18 March 1999