A theoretical model of transient cyclic voltammetry for electroactive biofilms

Raphaël Rousseau (1) , Marie-Line Délia-Dupuy (1) , Alain Bergel (1)

1 LGC - Laboratoire de Génie Chimique

A numerical model is designed to model transient cyclic voltammetry (CV) on electroactive biofilms. The dependence of the transient current peak (Jpeak) on the potential scan rate (v) is approached through a power law (Jpeakvs. vα) as is usually done in experimental studies. The two straightforward rules of thumb (α = 1 or α = 0.5), which are the only theoretical tools available so far, are shown to be partly deficient. In contrast, the model explains the fact that the α exponent can vary in a large range of values from 1 to 0.34 (possibly lower), as observed in experimental studies, and gives theoretically supported rules for interpreting transient CV of electroactive biofilms.

Mots clés: Cyclic voltammetry

Domaines: Génie chimique; Génie des procédés

Raphaël Rousseau, Marie-Line Délia-Dupuy, Alain Bergel. A theoretical model of transient cyclic voltammetry for electroactive biofilms. Energy & Environmental Science, 2014, 7 (3), pp.1079-1094. ⟨10.1039/C3EE42329H⟩. ⟨hal-01893249⟩