Preparation of a Simple Electrochemical Voltammetry Implementation System

Abstract

Cyclic Voltammetry is an Electro-chemical process used in the development Energy Storage cells and general electrochemistry.    In this report we present the use of an Atmega 326 microcontroller to prepare a Cyclic Voltammetry (CV) implementation system. The modular design incorporated a software pulse - width - modulated triangular wave generator, level shifter circuits, a three - electrode electrochemical tank driver circuit and PLX-DAQ-Excel digital Data Acquisition system. The system measured a 266.1 Ω carbon resistance as 262.7 Ω. It also effectively isolated the cathodic redox potential peak (750 mV) and anodic peak (520 mV) of a 1.5 mM Potassium Ferricyanide in 0.1M Potassium Nitrate at room temperature. A specific capacitance of 11.45 F/g was obtained for a 4.4 cm² coconut shell derived screen printed activated carbon electrode. The design is suitable for basic CV studies in Electrical Energy Storage Devices development.

Keywords: Microcontroller, Cyclic Voltammetry, Potentiostat, Level – shifter circuits, Potassium ferricyanide, Energy Storage Devices.

DOI: 10.7176/JNSR/12-18-04

Publication date:September 30^th 2021