Comparing Electrical Performance of Zn-Cu Flat Stacked and Rolled Galvanic Cells

Abstract

Galvanic cells generate electricity from spontaneous redox reactions and are applied by chemical engineers in areas such as corrosion control and electroplating. This study investigates the electrochemical performance of zinc-copper (Zn-Cu) galvanic cells in flat-stacked and rolled configurations, isolating the influence of configuration on voltage, current and power output. Using a 0.1M KCl salt bridge with 6cm x 3cm copper and zinc electrodes, the cell output was measured. Furthermore, the effect of ZnSO4 concentration (0.1M, 1M, 2M) was also tested. Rolled cells showed slightly higher voltage and current outputs, due to more effective electrode contact, however, both designs produced voltages below the theoretical 1.10V potential, due to current leakage, short circuits and lack of copper ions for cathodic reduction, increasing ZnSO4 concentrations correlated with a decreasing cell voltage, aligning with predictions derived from the Nernst Equation. While the investigation generated reasonable results, deviations from theoretical values and measurement inconsistencies suggested experimental refinement is needed. The investigation provided insights into how cell geometry and electrolyte composition influence galvanic cell efficiency, providing insights into optimisation of electrochemical systems and contributing to sustainability in applications including energy storage and usage in electric vehicles and renewable energy storage[1].