MOLECULAR ELECTROCHEMISTRY WITH ELEMENTS OF BIOMOLECULAR ELECTROCHEMISTRY

This course falls within the framework of the educational activities related to the Doctoral School in Sustainable Chemistry. The primary objective is to extend students' skills to the field of Electrochemistry.
Electrochemistry is a powerful tool to better understand the physico-chemical properties of matter and to develop new technologies shaping the future of a more sustainable life for the next generations. The course aims at providing students an overview of the fundamentals of electrode kinetics and thermodynamics in electrochemical systems. Specific applications will be also provided, such as electrogenerated chemiluminescence, electrochemical probe microscopy, electrocatalysis, biosensing development, and molecular electronics.

1. Knowledge and understanding
(a) Acquire knowledge of the electrodic kinetics and of the electron transfer reactions.
(b) Acquire knowledge of the relationships between molecular structure and physico-chemical properties of redox systems.
(c) Understanding the innovative role that nanotechnologies and nanomaterials are playing in the field of molecular electrochemistry and bioelectrochemistry.
(d) Understanding the basic concepts underlying the development of methodologies such as the redox catalysis and the electrochemical scanning probe microscopies.
(e) Understanding the fundamentals of electrochemistry and electron transfer theory and the role played by electrochemistry in developing technologies that can help shaping the future of a more sustainable life.
2. Ability to apply knowledge and understanding
(a) Understanding which electrochemical methodologies should be taken into account to investigate redox model systems and to develop new technologies.
(b) Capability to identify the key features of electrochemical methods and their applied technologies in terms of sustainability.
(c) Capability to employ the aquired concepts and knowledge to design suitable systems or technologies for redox catalysis, molecular electronics, biosensing.
(d) Capability to apply the notions to ongoing research interests.
3. Ability to judge (depending on the in-depth analysis of the subject matter during the course)
(a) Evaluate comparatively the effectiveness of different analytical strategies to choose the most suitable method for qualitative and quantitative analysis of a redox process.
(b) Develop critical skills in the evaluation of the analytical performances of the electrochemical discussed during the course to develop devices, such as biosensors for precision medicine or molecules of interest in the field of biology, biotechnology and medicine.
(c) Review critically the literature concerning the electrochemical technologies and their applications;
4. Communication skills
(a) Learn the use of the correct scientific terminology.
(b) Improve the oral communication skills by discussing (5-10 min) with the other students and the teacher a scientific article related with the course and suitably chosen through bibliographic and electronic sources (see next point 5).
5. Learning skills
(a) Demonstrate to have acquired the principles and concepts on the topics covered by the teacher during the class by implementing the learning process through bibliographic and electronic sources.

The student must be familiar with the basic concepts of thermodynamics and kinetics, both classical and instrumental analytical chemistry and biochemistry.

1. General properties of electrochemical systems. Electrode-solution interphases. Theory of the electric double layer. Mass transport. Fundamentals of electrode kinetics and thermodynamics.
2. Electron transfer theory.
3. Main experimental methodologies aimed at investigating the electrode kinetics: eg. voltammetry, chronoamperometry, electrochemical impedance spectroscopy.
4. Dissociative electron transfer in molecular model systems.
5. Redox catalysis.
6. Electrogenerated chemiluminescence.
7. Electrochemistry as a powerful tool to develop new technologies for a sustainable and renewable energy production/storage/conversion, and a cleaner environment.
8. Advanced electrochemical techniques and instruments based on scanning probe microscopy: scanning electrochemical microscopy (SECM), also coupled with atomic force microscopy (AFM-SECM).
9. Development of electrochemical-based biosensing platforms: ELISA-derived and aptamer/DNA-based technologies, field-effect transistors (FETs).
10. Coupling techniques: can optical and electrochemical systems work together, perhaps simultaneously?
11. Molecular electronics: the frontier of miniaturization at the nanoscale employing molecules as advanced electronic components.
12. Conclusions and perspectives: How Electrochemistry can help shaping the future of a more sustainable life? What’s next?

1. A. J. Bard, L. R. Faulkner. Electrochemical Methods. Fundamentals and Applications. 2nd ed. New York City: Wiley, 2002.
2. Savéant J.-M., Constentin C. Elements of Molecular and Biomolecular Electrochemistry. 2nd Edition, 2019, Wiley. ISBN: 9781119292333
3. J. Janata. Principles of Chemical Sensors. 2nd ed., Dordrecht: Springer, 2009.
4. P. Ugo, P. Marafini, M. Meneghello. Bioanalytical Chemistry – From Biomolecular Recognition to Nanobiosensing. De Gruyter 2021.
5. D. L. Nelson, M. M. Cox. Lehninger – Principles of Biochemistry. 7th ed., New York City: Macmillan Education, 2017.

Notes. Referenced articles.
The material used by the teacher during classes will be made available in the platform “Moodle”.

Oral exam. Each student will deliver a short presentation (15 min ca.) about a topic discussed during the course, which is related to or might be of interest as an integration/implementation of her/his own doctoral research topic. Upon each presentation, all the students and the teacher will pose questions, thus leading to an open discussion (5-10 min). The latter one will thus prove the knowldge acquired by the students and their understanding of the topics covered by the course.
The correct language and the acquired ability to identify and critically evaluate the appropriateness of the studied bioanalytical techniques will be evaluated.
The oral exam generally lasts approx. 20 minutes, depending on the clarity and appropriateness of the answers to the questions.

Teaching is organized in lectures. The learning of the theoretical principles underlying modern Electrochemistry and Molecular Electrochemistry could be integrated with the visit of laboratories where some of the discussed methodologies and techniques are applied, depending on the availability of the above-mentioned laboratories.
Slides and lecture notes used by the teacher for the lessons will be made available to download from the “Moodle” platform, accessible from the university web-site.

1. Sustainability.
The study of Modern Electrochemistry allows understanding the phenomena underlying a more sustainable development towards the environment and health. It also allows designing and developing methodologies and technologies that can help the “green” transition, the production/stocking/conversion of clean energy, and improving effectively the production of substances and materials.
2. Accessibility, Disability and Inclusion.
Accommodation and support services for students with disabilities and students with specific learning impairments: Ca’ Foscari abides by Italian Law (Law 17/1999; Law 170/2010) regarding supportservices and accommodation available to students with disabilities. This includes students with mobility, visual, hearing and other disabilities (Law 17/1999), and specific learning impairments (Law 170/2010). In the case of disability or impairment that requires accommodations (i.e., alternate testing, readers, note takers or interpreters), please contact the Disability and Accessibility Offices in Student Services: disabilita@unive.it.
3. Students who cannot not attend the classesin presence
Students, who legitimately cannot attend the course in whole or in part, are required to contact the teacher and discuss the program before the beginning of the classes.

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This subject deals with topics related to the macro-area "Human capital, health, education" and contributes to the achievement of one or more goals of U. N. Agenda for Sustainable Development