Hi Louann Brizendine ,

Electrochemical active surface area can be calculated using stripping voltammetry, either by oxidizing the metal surface and stripping the oxide layer formed on the surface or by depositing a atomic mono-layer of other metal (Ex. Thallium) and stripping the mono-layer by using CV or LSV. Area under the curve can be measured in the terms of charge (Q) = t (time in sec) X i (current in A).

For more details please follow my previous paper

Article Cu@Pd core-shell nanostructures for highly sensitive and sel...

Origin software may be useful to measure appropriate area under the curve. For the details please follow this link

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HwuvXcxz9fg

Dear Louann Brizendine

If you want to calculate the electrochemical active surface area of precious metal nano particles (Pt, Pd, etc), then do CV in acidic electrolyte (alkaline also) and you will get the Hupd area and then calculate the area under Hupd region using origin software.

Then charge = area/scan rate= columb (C) unit

Surface area= charge/ charge density (for Pt = 210 micro C/cm2)

Specific electrochemical active surface area = area/loading of materials

Best Regards,

Bapi

There are several methods for calculating the surface area. Particulary, I use the Ferro/ferrycyanide couple and use cyclic voltammetry as electrochemical tool. I make CV at different scan rates and then, I graph Ip (anodic and cathodic) vs the square of scan rate (from 5 to 200 mV/sec, every 15 mV, suppose alpha 0.5, one electron transfer and diffusion controlled experiment). I thake the slope of the graph and then, I use Randles-Sevcik equation (See here the parameters: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Randles%E2%80%93Sevcik_equation).

Be carefully to make the graph in amperes and volts.

For the experiment, I use the data in this paper Article Diffusion coefficients of ferri- and ferrocyanide ions in aq...

It doesnt need necessary the use of origin but it is a good tool if you know how fit the graph, and extract the slope. I calculate that in excel and works also.

Regards