Potentiostat / galvanostat / EIS

Potentiostats / galvanostats are designed to perform electrochemical measurements for applications like corrosion coatings, batteries, general electrochemistry and many more. Electrochemical Impedance Spectroscopy (EIS) is an option with each instrument. This type of analysis technique is used to study corrosion batteries, photovoltaics, and in some applications in life sciences. Other options include a broad range of current and voltage boosters.

How does a potentiostat / galvanostat work?

The basic potentiostat utilizes a three electrode system (2 or 4 electrode connections are also feasible). It measures and controls the voltage differences between the working electrode and a reference electrode that has a constant potential. It measures the current flow between the working electrode and the counter electrode (that completes the cell circuit). In a galvanostat, the device controls the cell’s current rather than the cell voltage.

 

The electrode of the working circuit could be a material on where a reaction is taking place or – for corrosion measurements it is a sample of the corroded material. To test batteries it is necessary to connect the potentiostat directly to the battery electrodes.

 

Electrochemical Impedance Spectroscopy (EIS) experiments allow the user to assess resistance to charge transfer, double layer capacitance and the ohmic resistance.

Why do you need a potentiostat / galvanostat / EIS?

Potentiostats are essential to studying the electrochemical mechanisms that cause reactions, e.g. Redox chemistry. Another purpose is to test the performance of batteries. Potentiostats can also serve to identify electrochemically active substances (e.g. chemicals, toxins) and microbes present in solution.

 

Electrochemical Impedance Spectroscopy (EIS) has many applications. It is used to study corrosion e.g. in reinforced concrete but also in electrode kinetics, batteries, double-layer studies solid-state electrochemistry, and photovoltaic systems.

 

Our potentiostat / galvanostat / EIS systems

Crucial to the function of a potentiostat / galvanostat and applications like electrochemical spectroscopy is the software. All of our BioLogic instruments are controlled by the highly multi-faceted EC-Lab(r) software. It is able to provide a range of measurement modes, using various methods of modularization, including loop and wait times to create complex experimental chain. This software is also able to control several potentiostats from one interface view.

 

An array of quality indicators will assist users to validate their EIS experimentswith respect to non-stationarity, linearity, or noise.

 

Finally, in contrast to many other systems, you can ‘Modify on the fly’, i.e. change the settings for parameters during an experiment in the event that results are not as expected.

Examples of how to use potentiostats or galvanostats/EIS

Metal surfaces may become corrosive when in contact with a corrosive solution (mostly acidsic medium). Electrochemical methods can examine the behavior of the material when it is submerged in the corrosive solution. Galvanostats, or potentiostats, are employed to characterize the behavior of these metals. Methods such as e.g., Electrochemical Impedance Spectrum (EIS), Linear Polarization Resistance and Tafel Plot experiments are used to understand the behaviour that the various metals exhibit.

 

Cells that produce photovoltaic energy are all over the place these days. Solar energy is crucial to the national, regional, and local energy production. In order to improve the efficiency of this source of energy, a lot of research is carried out. Photovoltaic solar cells ‘ characterization can be accomplished through polarization and Electrochemical Impedance-Spectroscopy techniques which enable the user to measure the effectiveness of the cell and develop a mathematical model. The electrochemistry’s role in energy fields is a current hot topic.