Colburn Alex W, Levey Katherine J, O'Hare Danny, Macpherson Julie V
Department of Chemistry, University of Warwick, Coventry, CV4 7AL, UK.
Phys Chem Chem Phys. 2021 Apr 14;23(14):8100-8117. doi: 10.1039/d1cp00661d. Epub 2021 Mar 26.
Students who undertake practical electrochemistry experiments for the first time will come face to face with the potentiostat. To many this is simply a box containing electronics which enables a potential to be applied between a working and reference electrode, and a current to flow between the working and counter electrode, both of which are outputted to the experimentalist. Given the broad generality of electrochemistry across many disciplines it is these days very common for students entering the field to have a minimal background in electronics. This article serves as an introductory tutorial to those with no formalized training in this area. The reader is introduced to the operational amplifier, which is at the heart of the different potentiostatic electronic circuits and its role in enabling a potential to be applied and a current to be measured is explained. Voltage follower op-amp circuits are also highlighted, given their importance in measuring voltages accurately. We also discuss digital to analogue and analogue to digital conversion, the processes by which the electrochemical cell receives input signals and outputs data and data filtering. By reading the article, it is intended the reader will also gain a greater confidence in problem solving issues that arise with electrochemical cells, for example electrical noise, uncompensated resistance, reaching compliance voltage, signal digitisation and data interpretation. We also include trouble shooting tables that build on the information presented and can be used when undertaking practical electrochemistry.
首次进行实际电化学实验的学生将会接触到恒电位仪。对许多人来说，它不过是一个装有电子元件的盒子，能在工作电极和参比电极之间施加电位，并使电流在工作电极和对电极之间流动，这两个电极的信号都会输出给实验人员。鉴于电化学在众多学科中的广泛应用，如今刚涉足该领域的学生往往电子学背景极为有限。本文旨在为那些未曾接受过该领域正规培训的人提供入门教程。文中向读者介绍了运算放大器，它是不同恒电位电子电路的核心，并解释了其在施加电位和测量电流方面所起的作用。鉴于电压跟随器运算放大器电路在精确测量电压方面的重要性，也对其进行了重点介绍。我们还讨论了数模转换和模数转换，即电化学电池接收输入信号、输出数据以及数据滤波的过程。通过阅读本文，读者在解决电化学电池出现的问题（如电噪声、未补偿电阻、达到合规电压、信号数字化和数据解读）时也会更有信心。我们还给出了故障排查表，它以文中呈现的信息为基础，可在进行实际电化学实验时使用。
