Electrochemical potential

In electrochemistry, the electrochemical potential, often abbreviated to ECP, is a thermodynamic measure that combines the concepts of energy stored in the form of chemical potential and electrostatics. It is important in biological processes that involve molecular diffusion across membranes, in electroanalytical chemistry, and industrial applications such as batteries and fuel cells. It represents one of the many interchangeable forms of potential energy through which energy may be conserved.

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In generic terms, electrochemical potential is the mechanical work done in bringing 1 mole of an ion from a standard state to a specified concentration and electrical potential. By an IUPAC definition^[1], it is the partial molar Gibbs energy of the substance at the specified electric potential, where the substance is in a specified phase.

In cell membranes, the electrochemical potential is the sum of the chemical potential and the membrane potential.

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