Construction and Optimisation of Zinc-Copper Galvanic Half-Cells with LED Illuminations

Abstract

This study investigates the construction, performance, and optimisation of galvanic cells using copper-copper ion and zinc-zinc ion half-cells. The experiment aimed to explore electrochemical energy generation through redox reactions and to evaluate how design factors affect cell efficiency. Galvanic half-cells were assembled using 0.1 M and 0.05 M copper (II) sulfate and zinc sulfate solutions as standard electrolytes. Voltage and current outputs were measured with a multimeter, and the ability of each cell to power LEDs of different colours was assessed.  Key variables, namely concentration, were systematically varied to determine their influence on electrical performance. The half-cell configuration demonstrated high output due to effective separation of half-reactions and minimal internal resistance. Increasing copper (II) sulfate concentration and decreasing zinc sulfate concentration generally improved performance, while series connections significantly boosted voltage, enabling the illumination of higher-threshold LEDs. The experiment highlighted the principles of electrochemical potential, circuit design, and redox chemistry. Results demonstrated the feasibility of using simple, low-cost materials to generate sufficient electrical energy for practical tasks such as lighting LEDs. This experiment emphasizes the relevance of electrochemical systems in sustainable energy applications and enhances understanding of real-world battery operation and optimisation.