3. Accumulator

3.1 Electrochemical cell

Having considered an electrode immersed in an electrolyte, the associated equilibrium conditions and its operation, it's time to look at the elementary electrochemical cell, made up of an electrolyte and two electrodes. An electrochemical cell is the site of spontaneous redox reactions which, under the right conditions, can generate an electric current. The overall reaction is broken down into two spatially distinct, simultaneous partial reactions, one of which results in the capture of electrons, the other in their release. These electrons are exchanged between the two reaction sites via an external electrical circuit, while charge transfer takes place in ionic form within the system between the electrodes, the sites of each reaction. To achieve this, the...