Potentiostat / galvanostat / EIS
Galvanostats and potentiostats are made for electrochemical measurement in applications such as corrosion coatings, batteries general electrochemistry, and many others. Electrochemical Impedance Spectroscopy (EIS) is available as an option on every instrument. This type of analysis technique is used for studies of corrosion, batteries, photovoltaic systems and in various applications in life sciences. Other options include a broad selection of voltage and current boosters.
How does a potentiostat / galvanostat function?
A basic potentiostat operates on an electrode system of three (2 or four electrode connections are possible). It regulates and monitors the voltage difference between a work electrode and a reference one that has a constant potential. It monitors the flow of current between the electrode that is working and the counter electrode (that completes the circuit of cells). As a galvanostat instrument controls the cell current rather than the voltage of the cell.
The working electrode may be a metal upon where a reaction is taking place or – in case of corrosion tests it is a sample of the degraded material. For battery testing, the potentiostat is connected directly to the battery electrodes.
Electrochemical Impedance Spectroscopy (EIS) experiments allow users to measure charge transfer resistance double layer capacitance, Ohmic resistance.
Why use a potentiostat / galvanostat/EIS?
A potentiostat is essential for the study of chemical reactions, e.g. the redox chemistry. Another application is testing of batteries. Potentiostats also can be used to check for electrochemically active substances (e.g. drugs, toxins) and microbes present in solution.
Electrochemical Impedance Spectroscopy (EIS) can be used for a variety of purposes. It is utilized to study corrosion, e.g. in reinforced concrete, but also in double-layer studies, batteries, photovoltaics and solid state electrochemistry systems.
Our potentiostat / galvanostat / EIS systems
The most important aspect of a potentiostat / galvanostat and applications like electrochemical impedance spectroscopy is the application. All our BioLogic instruments are controlled with the multi-faceted EC-Lab(r) software, to provide a variety of measurement modes, with different ways of operation, as well as loop and wait options that allow you to construct a complex experimental chain. The software can also be used to control several potentiostats from an interface that is a single view.
A wide range of quality indicators will enable users to confirm their EIS studies, in regard to non-stationarity, linearity or noise.
Furthermore, in contrast to many other systems, you can ‘Modify on the fly’, i.e. change settings in an experiment if results aren’t as you would expect.
Examples of how to use potentiostats / galvanostats / EIS
Metallic surfaces could corrosion when they are in contact with a corrosive solution (mostly acidic media). Electrochemical methods are able to study the behaviour of the metal when submerged in an corrosive solution. Galvanostats and potentiostats are utilized to determine the characteristics of metals. Methods such as e.g. Electrochemical Impedance Spectroscopy (EIS), Linear Polarization Resistance and Tafel Plot experiments are used to determine the behavior of these metals.
Cells that produce photovoltaic energy are ubiquitous these days. Solar energy is essential in the national, regional, and local energy production. To increase the efficiency of this type of energy supply much research is done. Photovoltaic solar cells characterization can be done using polarization as well as Electrochemical Impedance Spectroscopy methods, that allow users to assess the performance of the cell and determine the model. The electrochemistry’s role on energy fields is a topic of current interest.
