ConcentrationOverpotential

The concentration overpotential of an electrode reaction at a given electrode current density (c.d.) is basically the difference in equilibrium potentials across the diffusion layer. More precisely, it is the potential of a reference electrode (of the same electrode reaction as the working electrode ) with the interfacial concentrations which establish themselves at c.d., relative to the potential of a similar reference electrode with the concentrations of the bulk solution. From such a measured potential difference, with c.d. flowing, one needs to subtract the ohmic potential drop prevailing between the two electrodes.