Equivalent circuit for assessing pore size distribution in porous electrodes by EIS

Abstract

The size, geometry and arrangement of pores can significantly affect both the activity of electrocatalysts and the performance of supercapacitors. Electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) is a powerful, non-invasive diagnostic tool for characterizing porous conductive media. To date, the impedance of porous electrodes characterized by the distribution of pore sizes has been described only on the basis of numerical models. Here, for the first time, the impedance of such systems is provided in the form of analytical solutions valid in high and low frequency range. The model enables traditional equivalent circuit fitting to impedance of electrodes characterized by log–normal distribution of pore sizes. The analytical expressions for the circuit elements give access to the electrode idealized geometry in terms of log-normal distribution. The model was applied for the analysis of the electrochemical impedance of activated carbon electrode in a sulphuric acid solution. The width of pore size distribution, mean pore radius, pore length and the number of pores can be determined from a single impedance spectrum.