The Department of Technical Electrochemistry was founded in 1930 at the Kharkiv Institute of Chemical Technology, which in 1950 became part of the Polytechnic Institute, now the National Technical University “Kharkiv Polytechnic Institute”. From 1933 to 1959, the department was headed by Prof. A.M. Sysoev, a talented electrochemist, a specialist in electroplating and electrochemistry of melts. In 1959-1982, the department was headed by Prof. F.K. Andriushchenko, an outstanding scientist who worked as vice-rector for administrative and scientific work, dean of the Faculty of Inorganic Substances Technology, and trained a number of highly qualified specialists. Under his leadership, the faculty and research staff of the department reached the number of 45 employees, and the admission plan for the specialty “Technology of Electrochemical Production” increased from 25 to 100 students. Under the guidance of Prof. Andriushchenko F.K., Prof. Marchenko N.A., Prof. Orekhova V.V., Associate Professor Popova M.G. and other teachers in 1975-80, fundamentally new curricula were developed, which included disciplines of the fundamental cycle, the use of computer technology. Under the scientific supervision of Prof. Andriushchenko F.K., a technology for the production of negative mass iron-nickel alkaline batteries was developed and introduced into production at battery plants in the USSR. Prof. Andriushchenko F.K., Prof. Marchenko N.A., Prof. Orekhova V.V., Prof. Yakymenko G.Y. and Assoc. Artemenko V.M. were the leaders of projects on the development of new polyligand electrolytes for galvanostegy, Prof. Bayrachnyi B.I, Associate Professor Lyashok L.V., Associate Professor Gomozov V.P., Associate Professor Yaroshok T.P. participated in the development of technological processes for the manufacture of chemical current sources and oxide semiconductor capacitors. In 1983, the department was headed by Prof. Bairachnyi B.I. In 1983-90, the staff of the Department of Technical Electrochemistry increased to 55 employees. Teachers and researchers of the department, headed by Prof. Bairachnyi B.I., Prof. Orekhova V.V., Prof. Gorbachev A.K., Prof. Sakhnenko M.D., Prof. Yakymenko G.Y. developed advanced technological processes and electrolytes in galvanostegy, production of modern current sources and semiconductor capacitors, chemotronic devices, electrochemical synthesis of high-purity organic and inorganic substances, corrosion protection of metals. During this period, he published 4 textbooks, 3 monographs, and a large number of articles and patents. For the last 25 years, the department’s educational and research activities have been aimed at training personnel for the industrial complex of Ukraine.
Currently, the department has 2 Doctor of Technical Sciences and 5 Candidates of Technical Sciences. There is a doctoral program, a postgraduate program, and a specialized council for the defense of candidate and doctoral dissertations. In 2001-2016, the faculty and staff of the department prepared and published 4 parts of the textbook “Technical Electrochemistry”, textbooks and manuals “Fundamentals of the theory of corrosion and protection of metals”, “Rare scattered and noble elements. Technology of production and use“, ”Theoretical bases of chemistry of rare and scattered elements“, ”Galvanic coatings. Aspects of selection, functional properties and production technology“, ”Equipment for electrochemical production. Electroplating technology”. In 2005, the department opened the specialty “Chemical Technologies of Rare Scattered Elements and Materials Based on Them”, the only one in Ukraine that trains specialists in this field for the needs of production. Since independence, the department has trained more than 1000 specialists, 3 doctors and 40 candidates of technical sciences. The training of engineering personnel is carried out in accordance with the 4th level of accreditation at the bachelor’s, specialist’s and master’s degrees. Since 2013, the department has been headed by Doctor of Technical Sciences, Professor G. Tulsky, a specialist in electrochemical synthesis of chemical products and metal oxide systems. Under the leadership of B. I. Bairachnyi and G. G. Tulskyi, the department’s research activities have expanded to include hydrogen energy, electrode materials for electrochemical synthesis, energy saving in chemical production, production of functional materials, and development of technologies for the processing of rare and precious metals. Since 2024, the department has been headed by Dr. Leshchenko S.A., Associate Professor, a specialist in electrochemical deposition of galvanic coatings.
Current Areas of Research in the Department’s Scientific School:
Electroplating and finishing
Electropolishing and dimensional processing of metals
Electrochemical anodic oxidation of metals
Application of non-metallic inorganic coatings
Processing of secondary metal-containing raw materials
Electrochemical synthesis of hydrogen for the needs of hydrogen energy, pure compounds, oxidants and reducing agents
Electrochemical methods of analysis
Hydroelectrometallurgy
Protection of metals against corrosion