The physical properties of electronic materials as determined by EMF measurements

The measurement of the electromotive force (EMF) of a suitable galvanic cell is one of the most accurate methods to obtain thermodynamic information of alloys. For a chemist, all chemical reactions are, in a sense, electrochemical reactions since all chemical interactions at the atomic level are electrical interactions. Therefore, every chemist and material scientist should be familiar with EMF measurements. This article reviews EMF measurements and the advantages and disadvantages of liquid and solid electrolytes.