Potentiostat / galvanostat / EIS

Potentiostats/galvanostats are designed to measure electrochemical properties in applications like corrosion, coatings, batteries, general electrochemistry and many more. Electrochemical Impedance Spectroscopy (EIS) is available as an option for every instrument. The method of analysis is used to study corrosion batteries, photovoltaic systems and in certain life science applications. There are other options, including a wide choice of current and voltage boosters.

How does a p-potentiostat / galvanostat work?

A simple potentiostat employs three electrodes (2 or 4 electrode connections are also possible). It measures and controls the voltage difference between a working electrode as well as a reference electrode that has a constant power. It determines the flow of the current between the working electrode and the counter electrode (that completes the cell circuit). As a galvanostat device controls the cell’s current rather than the cell voltage.

The working electrode could be a piece of metal on where a reaction occurs or – in corrosion measurements – a sample of the corrosion-prone material. To test batteries the potentiostat is attached directly to the electrodes of the battery.

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

Why do you need a potentiostat / galvanostat / EIS?

A potentiostat is essential for the study of the electrochemical mechanisms that cause reactions, e.g. Redox chemistry. Another reason to use them is for the testing of batteries. Potentiostats also can be used to identify electrochemically active substances (e.g. toxic substances, drugs) and microbes.

Electrochemical Impedance Spectroscopy (EIS) can be used for a variety of purposes. It is used to study corrosion e.g. in reinforced concrete however, it can also be used in electrode kinetics, batteries, double-layer studies photovoltaics and solid state electrochemistry systems.

Our potentiostat / galvanostat / EIS systems

The most important aspect of a galvanostat/potentiostat and applications like electrochemical impedance spectroscopy is the application. All of our BioLogic instruments can be controlled using the multi-faceted EC-Lab(r) software. It is able to offer a variety of measurement options, including various options for modular methods, with loop and delay options to design a complex experiment chain. The program is also able to control multiple potentiostats through one interface view.

A variety of quality indicators can help users verify their EIS experimentswith respect to non-stationarity (stationarity), linearity or noise.

Finally, in contrast to the majority of other systems, you can ‘Modify on the fly’, i.e. change parameter settings during an experiment , if the results aren’t as you would expect.

Examples of how potentiostats can be used and galvanostats / EIS

Metallic surfaces are prone to become corrosive upon contact with a corrosive liquid (mostly an acidic solution). Through electrochemical techniques, you are able to study the behaviour of the metal submerged in an corrosive solution. Galvanostats, or potentiostats, are employed to analyze the characteristics of metals. Techniques such as e.g. Electrochemical Impedance Spectrum (EIS), Linear Polarization Resistance and Tafel Plot experiments are used to characterize the behavior of the metals.

Photosynthetic cells are everywhere these days. Solar energy is crucial to local, regional and national energy production. In order to improve the efficiency of the energy source, a lot of research is carried out. Photovoltaic solar cells characterization can be accomplished through polarization and Electrochemical Impedance Spectroscopy techniques, which permit the user to evaluate the efficiency of the cell as well as the analyze. The role played by electrochemistry to Energy fields is currently a hot subject.