This monograph overviews the importance of electrochemistry in the field of cultural heritage, including archaeology, conservation and restoration topics. The application of electrochemical techniques in these domains have experienced a notable growth during the last ten years, in particular with regards to the elucidation of composition, manufacturing techniques and chronology of archaeological artefacts. This book describes the application of solid state electrochemistry techniques for the use of samples at the nanogram level from paintings, metallic, ceramic, glass, glazed, wooden, and other objects, and it also includes the description of new dating procedures for archaeological objects made of these materials. It is a valuable contribution to the field of cultural heritage and will be of great interest to archaeologists, conservators and restorers as well as to physicists and chemists working on the scientific examination of works of art.

Electrochemistry plays an important role in preserving our cultural heritage. For the first time this has been documented in the present volume. Coverage includes both electrochemical processes such as corrosion and electroanalytical techniques allowing to analyse micro- and nanosamples from works of art or archaeological finds. While this volume is primarily aimed at electrochemists and analytical chemists, it also contains relevant information for conservators, restorers, and archaeologists.

This chapter discusses the evaluation of metal conservation treatments using a specialized electrochemical cell. The cell can be deployed in a synchrotron beam line to make in-situ, time-lapse measurements on heritage metal alloys undergoing processes based on electrochemical treatments/measurements. We focus on two specific projects: (1) the evaluation of currently used stabilization processes for cupreous objects recovered from marine environments, and (2) the development and testing of a coating to protect lead objects which is stable, reversible (i.e. easy to apply and to remove), protective against corrosion and aesthetically justified.

Electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) is a powerful tool in developing the most appropriate methodology for ensuring long-lasting artefact preservation. EIS consists in the measurement of amplitude and phase of the surface impedance of coated metallic objects at different frequencies in order to highlight either the protective effectiveness of a coating or the stability of a corrosion product layer grown onto the metallic surface. Two in-situ EIS measuring campaigns are described together with the description of the portable instrument and the measuring probes specifically designed and developed for cultural heritage applications.

This chapter discusses the application of the voltammetry of microparticles, a solid-state electrochemical technique, to the field of corrosion of archaeological metal. Identification of metals and alloys, identification, mapping and layer-by-layer analysis of corrosion products on metal surfaces using this technique are described. Applications include quantification of components of alloys and corrosion layers, and evaluation of metal conservation and the kinetics of long-term corrosion processes. Specific applications in archaeometry, conservation and restoration include authentication and dating.

Electrochemistry of Porous Materials describes essential theoretical aspects of the electrochemistry of nanostructured materials and primary applications, incorporating the advances in the field in the last ten years including recent theoretical formulations and the incorporation of novel materials. Concentrating on nanostructured micro- and mesoporous materials, the highly anticipated Second Edition offers a more focused and practical analysis of key porous materials considered relatively homogeneous from an electrochemical point of view. The author details the use of electrochemical methods in materials science for characterization and their applications in the fields of analysis, energy production and storage, environmental remediation, and the biomedical arena. Additional features include: Incorporates new theoretical advances in the voltammetry of porous materials and multiphase porous electrochemistry. Includes new developments in sensing, energy production and storage, degradation of pollutants, desalination and drug release. Describes redox processes for different porous materials, assessing their electrochemical applications. Written at an accessible and understandable level for researchers and graduate students working in the field of material chemistry. Selective and streamlined, Electrochemistry of Porous Materials, Second Edition culls a wide range of relevant and practically useful material from the extensive literature on the subject, making it an invaluable reference for readers of all levels of understanding.

The basic principles of corrosion and electrochemistry are briefly summarised to indicate the capabilities of electrochemical techniques in diagnostic and conservation of heritage metals. The basic elements of each electrochemical measurement – cell, electrolyte, instrumentation – are schematically illustrated in the specific application to cultural heritage. The different measurement techniques are reviewed, divided into three groups: (1) potential measurements; (2) DC techniques; (3) AC techniques. The aims and fields of application are discussed, reporting several examples of specific applications in the field of cultural heritage.

This book details the application of advanced characterisation techniques and diagnostic tools to heritage science, including the evaluation of heritage assets’ condition, their preservation and restoration. It examines the use of electrochemical techniques in conservation science, with a particular focus on how to solve problems in taking on-site measurements. Specifically, it introduces readers to a new gel polymer (GPE) electrochemical cell developed by the authors for the characterisation of metallic heritage objects. Other techniques used to characterise and monitor reinforced concrete objects in more modern buildings are also covered, including non-destructive electrochemical techniques that allow steel corrosion to be assessed in these structures, and in those that are used to protect and repair such buildings. The usefulness of the NMR-Mouse nuclear magnetic resonance sensor in the assessment and preservation of softer heritage materials, such as wood, parchment, bone, and painted walls, is covered, as well as Infrared reflectography for examining paintings and laser cleaning for restoring them. The book introduces ultra-High Performance Liquid Chromatography (u-HPLC) with a diode-array (DAD) and mass–mass (MS-MS) quadruple time-of-flight spectroscopy (QTOF). This new technique can be applied to the analysis and identification of natural and synthetic organic pigments and its use is demonstrated in several case studies. This book provides a rigorous scientific grounding in the application of state-of-the-art techniques in heritage science and conservation, and offers a practical handbook for practitioners.

The book sets the standard on carbon materials for electrode design. For the first time, the leading experts in this field summarize the preparation techniques and specific characteristics together with established and potential applications of the different types of carbon-based electrodes. An introductory chapter on the properties of carbon together with chapters on the electrochemical characteristics and properties of the different modifications of carbon such as carbon nanotubes, graphene, carbon fiber, diamond or highly ordered pyrolytic graphite provide the reader with the basics on this fascinating and ubiquitous electrode material. Cutting-edge technologies such as carbon electrodes in efficient supercapacitors, Li-ion batteries and fuel cells, or electrodes prepared by screen-printing are discussed, giving a complete but concise overview about the topic. The clearly structured book helps newcomers to grasp easily the principles of carbon-based electrodes, while researchers in fundamental and applied electrochemistry will find new ideas for further research on related key technologies.

Human heritage is an endless mine of knowledge, skills, ethos and accomplishments, which visualize and examine the power of human creativity and innovation throughout the history. The contributions cast an insight into the human psyche to perceive its Weltanschauung, and its way of thinking and making artefacts associated with knowledge, existence and identity in the context of other existing systems in the world. They demonstrate the diversity of topics as well as the state-of-the art of interdisciplinary approaches that participants of the Humboldt-Kolleg use in their research on cultural heritage, and confirm, once again, that the strengths of the Alexander von Humboldt Network should be celebrated and honoured. The present volume invites us to seek more novel research approaches that aim towards an understanding of the complex nature of human inheritance.