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Modulating Electrochemical Reaction-Zone Dynamics Using Hydrogels of Varying Thickness

CSEF · 2026 Chemistry (Senior Division)

Siew Thai Foo, Bailey Li-Lu

Overview

Uncoated electrodes during electrolysis produce wide reaction zones and accumulate gas bubbles at their surface, reducing efficiency and control. This project investigated whether calcium alginate hydrogel coatings of varying thickness could moderate these effects by acting as a physical diffusion barrier at the cathode surface. Electrodes coated with thin and thick hydrogel layers were compared against bare electrodes in an anthocyanin pH-indicator solution, with reaction zone size, color intensity, and bubble formation quantified using AI assisted OpenCV-based image segmentation. Thicker hydrogel coatings produced smaller, more localized reaction zones and trapped gas bubbles at the electrode surface, while bare electrodes produced the largest and most intense zones. These results demonstrate that hydrogel thickness significantly restricts ion diffusion and stabilizes the electrode interface, supporting the use of hydrogel coatings as a practical strategy for controlling electrochemical reactions in biomedical devices.

Competition history

  • CSEF 2026 Chemistry (Senior Division) · Entry S-05-15

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