Nernst equation

What was discovered

Relates an electrode's potential to the concentration of the species and to temperature, joining thermodynamics and electrochemistry. It allows the prediction of cell voltages and membrane potentials.

What it led to

• Quantitative electrochemistry
• Glass electrode and pH meter
• Electrophysiology (membrane potential)
• Rationally designed batteries

Built on

• Chemical thermodynamics: Gibbs free energy, chemical potential, phase rule1875-1878
• Electrolytic dissociation theory and Arrhenius acid-base definition1884-1887
• Gibbs free energy

Made possible

• pH scale1909
• Lithium-ion battery chemistry (intercalation cathodes and anodes)1976-1985
• potentiometry
• electrochemical sensors

📄 Original publication

Links