[michaelm700]

Suppose you had an electrolyte with two inert electrodes that do not chemically interact with the electrolyte. The  electrodes and electrolyte are placed within an electric field produced by a second independent and electrically isolated circuit attracting anions towards an area surrounding the cathode and cations toward the anode.

If the electrodes could be placed within the electrolyte at areas of highest + and - ion concentration, would current flow through a load connected across the electrodes due solely to the potential created by the charge distribution until the electrolyte was neutralized? That is, a battery effect without a galvanic potential.

[Borek]

Can you draw it and attach a picture to the post? I have problems picturing what you have described.

[michaelm700]

Hi Borek,

Yes, please see the attached drawing and see if this makes any sense. The battery and plates create an electric field that produces an ion gradient as shown with cations collecting near the negatively charged plate and anions near the positively charged plate. If you then stuck electrodes in the solution as shown, would the charge distribution cause electrons to leave the anions, travel through a load and reduce the cations without any redox participation from the electrode material?

thanks

[Borek]

This system goes to equilibrium quite fast. Try to evaluate charges required to build the electric field in the solution, electric field high enough to neutralize the external field. How high current is required to build this charge (assuming times in the ms or s range)? Is it even measurable?