Better Batteries: A Study of Galvanic Cells

Overview

Objectives/Goals The experiment I am conducting consists of testing the amount of voltage produced by different materials in galvanic cells as well as the best way to connect the parts that form a galvanic cell (whether a porous cup or ionic salt bridge). My hypothesis predicted that if a galvanic cell was made of a copper cathode and lead anode then this particular combination would produce the most voltage. When I set up the cell, it would contain a tw0 half cell connected through a salt bridge. I will repeat these combinations however I will use porous materials to establish how two half cells can be connected without the need of a salt bridge . This experiment will test the best combination of half cells as well as the effect of porous cups in comparison to salt bridges. Methods/Materials The materials I am using include copper and copper sulfate, aluminum and aluminum sulfate, zinc and zinc sulfate, magnesium and magnesium sulfate, and lead and lead nitrate. For the porous barrier I am using terracotta pots, whereas for the salt bridge I constructed my own through the use of plastic tubing, salt water, and cotton swabs to hold the solution within the bridge. Results My results disproved my hypothesis. I found that a Magnesium and Copper combination produces the most voltage in a galvanic cell with a salt bridge. I recognized that the top four combination of half cells all used magnesium as an electrode. I also found that porous cups tend to decrease the voltage produced by a cell by about 24.6% rather than a salt bridge However, interestingly, the porous cup augmented the voltage in a magnesium and aluminum cell demonstrating that magnesium is augmented in voltage by porous cups. Conclusions/Discussion Knowing that conventional batteries are made of zinc and copper or aluminum, my experiment identified a flaw in modern battery engineering. With the need for clean, powerful sources of enegery gradually overtaking society, my project adresses a progressing field in modern day sciences. With the results of my project, I have established that there are more efficient ways to engineer batteries with new and unique materials.

Awards (1)

• Fourth Place

Competition history

• CSEF 2017 Chemistry · Entry J0609

Resources

• CSEF project summary ↗

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