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A comment on the need to distinguish between cell and electrode impedances

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Abstract

The frequently overlooked elementary difference between electrode and cell impedance in studies of batteries and supercapacitors is discussed; effects on data interpretation and possible remedies are presented.

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Notes

  1. This element has also been called constant phase angle element CPA [26], this acronym appears to be orphaned.

  2. The following considerations apply to electrodes in a supercapacitor also; in case of pure double layer capacitor electrodes the absence of a Faradaic reaction may cause further complications beyond the scope of this comment.

  3. In his original report, Randles assigned a series connection of Rr und Cr to the electrode reaction in the equivalent circuit, this was later transformed into the charge transfer resistance Rct. and ZW, a diffusion impedance element. The latter is frequently omitted possibly resulting in confusion.

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Acknowledgements

Preparation of this communication has been supported in various ways by the Alexander von Humboldt-Foundation, Deutscher Akademischer Austauschdienst, Fonds der Chemischen Industrie, Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft, National Basic Research Program of China, and National Materials Genome Project (2016YFB0700600), National Natural Science Foundation of China (51502137, U1601214, 51772147 and distinguished youth scientist of 51425301), and Jiangsu Distinguished Professorship Program (2016). Financial support within a research project at St. Petersburg State University supported by grant № 26455158 is gratefully acknowledged.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. College of Energy and Institute for Advanced Materials, Nanjing Tech University, Nanjing, 211816, Jiangsu Province, China

    Lijun Fu, Rudolf Holze & Yuping Wu

  2. College of Physics, Optoelectronics and Energy & Collaborative Innovation Center of Suzhou Nano Science and Technology, Soochow University, Suzhou, 215006, Jiangsu, People’s Republic of China

    Qunting Qu

  3. Institut für Chemie, AG Elektrochemie, Technische Universität Chemnitz, D-09107, Chemnitz, Germany

    Rudolf Holze

  4. Institute of Chemistry, Saint Petersburg State University, St. Petersburg, Russia, 199034

    Rudolf Holze

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  1. Lijun Fu
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Correspondence to Rudolf Holze or Yuping Wu.

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Fu, L., Qu, Q., Holze, R. et al. A comment on the need to distinguish between cell and electrode impedances. J Solid State Electrochem 23, 717–724 (2019). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10008-018-4155-0

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