Potentiostats
- Solartron sell a low priced potentiostat, what is it called?
- What electrochemical techniques does the potentiostat offer?
- What advantages does the Solartron potentiostat have over the competitive instruments? List them and explain why this is the case.
- When using the cyclic voltammetry option on the CorrWare software, what should the potentiostat be set to, and why?
- Why is a potentiostat sometimes necessary for use with a 1260?
- How would you test the set up of a Solartron Potentiostat?
- How would you test the set up of an Electrochemical Interface coupled to a Frequency Response Analyzer?
- Why would the potential not reach the desired level requested via software for my potentiostat?
- 1470-1480 Software and Firmware Upgrade Instructions
- What are the minimum computer requirements to run SMaRT software with 1260, 1296 or 1294 products?
- What are the minimum computer requirements to run CellTest software with 1470 (including 12XX or 14XX FRAs)?
Solartron sell a low priced potentiostat, what is it called?
In electrochemical research Solartron has established an unrivalled reputation for providing impedance measurement systems of the highest quality and reliability. The introduction of the 1285A Potentiostat provides scientists working in DC electrochemistry with an instrument having Solartron's superior technology in a comprehensive yet affordable package.
What electrochemical techniques does the potentiostat offer?
The 1285A offers a variety of electrochemical techniques, all of which are operated using the tailor made CorrWare for Windows package that was developed especially by Scribner Associates for this instrument. Besides the techniques listed below, a scanner facility is also available which enables the user to perform multiple sequences of experiments, without further programming.
- Open circuit
- Potential square-wave
- Potentiostatic
- Potential scan/hold
- Galvanostatic
- Galvanic square-wave
- Potentiodynamic
- Potential stair-step
- Galvanodynamic
- Galvanic cycle
- Cyclic voltammetry
- Electrochemical noise
What advantages does the Solartron potentiostat have over competitive instruments? List them and explain why this is the case.
The specifications of the 1285A provide a series of competitive advantages. These include:
- Excellent voltage and current sensitivity (1pA/1 mV)
- High accuracy voltage and current measurement
- Four terminal measurement capability (battery and membrane measurements)
- Versatile, tailor-made, Windows-based software enabling real-time analysis and rapid data manipulation
- Accurate and sensitive corrosion analysis (Tafel plots, cyclic voltammetry - the ASTM standard scan rate is 0.1667mV/sec, 10mV/min)
- High polarization voltage and current, suitable for battery analysis (the open circuit potential for a 12V accumulator array is nominally 13.6V, well inside the 14.5V polarization voltage also allowing measurement of individual cells within an array
- Floating measurements - This makes the instrument particularly suited to pipeline, autoclave and storage tank analysis
- Simultaneous voltage and current measurement (using Solartron DVM technology, two >18 bit 5x9 DVMs are used, one dedicated to current measurement and the other to voltage)
- Versatile instrument capable of field and laboratory analysis
When using the cyclic voltammetry option on the CorrWare software, what should the potentiostat be set to and why?
The cyclic voltammetry option in CorrWare enables the application of a potential sweep between fixed points (up to four set points), monitoring the current with respect to the swept voltage. The scan rate determines the potentiostat setting (found in Edit -Set-up Pstat/Gstat), the options available for the sweep type being either stepped or analogue. If the scan rate is increased beyond a certain level when using a stepped potentiostat, the response obtained will be spiked or stepped as the applied stepped potential is below the scan rate speed. It is advised that for all cyclic voltammetry the potentiostat is set to the analogue setting allowing smooth voltammograms to be produced.
Why is a potentiostat sometimes necessary for use with a 1260A?
The use of a potentiostat (1287A Electrochemical Interface) is sometimes necessary in certain applications as electrochemists/materials scientists need to apply a DC bias to a system prior to applying the AC perturbing signal. For example it is often the case in corrosion studies that the system will be held at different bias levels and the corrosion rate monitored via impedance measurement.
How would you test the set up of a Solartron potentiostat?
The procedure for checking potentiostats requires that measurements are made using the instrument independently. The standard test box (12861A) is connected to the front panel of the potentiostat.
(a) With the test box connected there should be a 10kohm resistance between RE1 and RE2. The polarization voltage level should be set at 1 volt. Measurements should be commenced and the voltage dV (1 volt) and the current (1V/10Kohm = 100mA) checked. The procedure can then be repeated, this time applying 1V, and the results checked to make sure that they are sensible.
(b) Further checks can then be made by attaching an oscilloscope to the rear of the potentiostat and making sure that the correct voltage level appears on the output.
The scope should then be attached to the current output, which should then give a voltage reading that is proportional to the current measured (i.e. the scaling factor is the reference resistor value proportional to the current input, selected on the current range).
For example if 100mA is being measured using the 1ohm current range, then the voltage output on the current terminal is 100mV.
How would you test the set up of an electrochemical interface coupled to a frequency response analyzer?
If the electrochemical interface and frequency response analyzer are working independently, both providing meaningful results, then they can be coupled together (see instruction manual). The combined system can then be tested using the following techniques.
(a) Set the FRA to apply a 1 volt AC signal, connected to the polarization input on the electrochemical interface. A 1K resistor should then be attached between CE+RE1 and WE+RE2, and the V and I outputs on the interface monitored on an oscilloscope. The appearance of DC offsets should be monitored for as these will affect the measurement resolution of the FRA.
(b) A further test which can be used involves using the FRA at 100mHz and monitoring the display on the electrochemical interface. The display should show sine wave values over a period of ten seconds.
(c) Finally the acquisition of data using ZPlot software should be attempted (dummy/test cells can be used, which should provide characteristic impedance plots).
Why would the potential not reach the desired level requested via software for my potentiostat?
Three common possibilities:
(a) Hardware problem. Check system using potentiodynamic sweep of a known resistor, if correct potential is not achieved, a problem requiring professional repair/calibration may be needed. If correct potential and current (based on resistor size) are achieved, problem is likely cell related.
(b) The counter electrode may be too small in relation to the working electrode and it is starved for reactants. Use a larger counter electrode, or reduce the size of the working electrode (if possible). It is recommended that the counter electrode be 2X the size of the working electrode to insure adequate current handling capability.
(c) The counter electrode may have a high resistance path between it and the working electrode causing the voltage to exceed the compliance limits (voltage between working and counter electrodes) of the instrument. To correct this, move the counter electrode closer to the working electrode and/or remove any high resistance pathways such as membranes between the electrodes if at all possible. It may also be caused by poor cable connections to your working or counter electrodes which again result in a high resistance path. Clean and/or reseat the connections.
1470-1480 Software amd Firmware Upgrade Instructions
Software upgrade instructions: Remove any previous version of Celltest. Download the latest version of
Celltest software from the Solartron Analytical website download section. Open the folder and click on
setup.exe and follow the on screen instructions. If you do upgrade your software, it is advisable to upgrade your 1470/1480 firmware to the latest versions as well.
1470/1480 firmware upgrade instructions: If you don’t have Celltest installed, you will first need to install Celltest. You will also need a straight serial cable to connect the 9 pin port on the back of the 1470/1480 with the Com1 port on your computer. Other com ports can be used as well.
From Celltest go to toolsàAdvanced FeaturesàUpgrade Firmware. A window will pop up that looks like the one shown below:
In the window marked "marshalling code" a file named "14705403AF.s??" should be placed. To get the firmware upgrader to look in the correct place, click on the small box with 2 dots on the right side of the upgrade firmware window. This will allow you to select the folder marked "firmware" on the CD or wherever you downloaded it to. Open the folder named "firmware." Double click on the file shown above. Click on open in the Choose an S record to download window.
In the window marked "Main Channel DSP Code" a file named "14705404??.mpm" should be placed. Click on open in the Choose a main channel DSP S- record to download window.
In the window marked "Temperature Channel DSP Code" a file named "14705405??.mpm" should be placed. Click on open in the Choose a Temperature channel DSP S- record to download window.
In the window marked "Option Channel DSP Code" a file named "14705406??.mpm" should be placed. Open the folder and double click on the file named above. Click on open in the Choose a Option channel DSP S- record to download window.
Connect from the com1 port on the computer to the 9 pin serial port on the back of the 1470 with a 9 pin serial cable.
Click the Send Upgrade button in the upgrade firmware window Turn on the 1470/1480 and immediately click OK.
After minutes or so, a message saying that the firmware has been upgraded successfully should come up and it will ask if you want to boot the 1470/1480. Click OK, and after several minutes, it should come up with the message “All channels have booted successfully.”
At this point the 1470/1480 is ready to use.
What are the minimum computer
requirements to run SMaRT software with 1260, 1296 or 1294 products?
The minimum requirements to run SMaRT are as follows:
PC with:
- Microsoft Windows XP Professional (Service pack 2)
- 1 GHz Pentium or equal processor
- 512 Meg RAM
- CD
- (2) USB ports required if using 12XX FRA plus (2) IEEE-488.2 Interface (National Instruments GPIB Board) USB-GPIB controller cables OR
- 10/100 BaseT Ethernet port (2 if connecting to a network) if using 1470E alone or coupled with 14XX FRA
- For 12XX FRA/1296:- (2) USB Ports plus ( 2) IEEE-488.2 Interface (National Instruments GPIB Board) USB-GPIB controller cables
- For 12XX FRA/1294:- Parallel port (LPT) (available on desktop PCs; not USB-to-parallel converter or parallel port on laptop docking station) and (1) USB port plus (1) IEEE-488.2 Interface (National Instruments GPIB Board) USB-GPIB controller cable
What are the minimum computer requirements to run CellTest software with
1470 (including 12XX or 14XX FRAs)?
The minimum requirements to run CellTest are as follows:
PC with:
- Microsoft Windows XP Professional (Service pack 2)
- 1 GHz Pentium or equal processor
- 512 Meg RAM
- CD
- (2) USB ports required if using 12XX FRA plus (2) IEEE-488.2 Interface (National Instruments GPIB Board) USB-GPIB controller cables OR
- 10/100 BaseT Ethernet port (2 if connecting to a network) if using 1470E alone or coupled with 14XX FRA
If you have a comment or question relating to our products or the use of our products in a particular application, or you have been unable to find the answer to your question, please contact our Technical Support team:
For Worldwide Technical Support (except North America) please contact:
Farnborough Office
Tel: +44 (0)1252 556800
Email: support@solartronanalytical.com
For Technical Support in North America please contact:
Jim Mason
Tel: (1) 281-313-2477
Email: jim.mason@ametek.com
