Team Members:
Kyle Bloomer
Josh Geiman
Lucas Bennett
Team Sponsor:
Dr. Cindy Harnett
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A Potentiostat is the electronic hardware required to
control a three electrode cell and run most electroanalytical experiments.
An electronic instrument that controls the voltage
difference between a Working Electrode and a Reference
Electrode.
It measures the current flow between the Working and
Counter Electrodes.
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Two past projects completed by a prior capstone group,
and Ben Williams, a Masters student, both based on the
“ardustat” project
Current design utilizes only two electrodes
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Noise issue with closing a dry contact relay, especially
when taking measurements moments after closure.
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No circuit protection
Current design has a graphical user interface that has
functionalities that are largely inoperable, and needs a
‘ground up’ revision
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Developed by UCSB as an affordable alternative to OTS
potentiostat devices
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Three electrode configuration
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Numerous measurement modes
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Input parameters set through onboard LCD and 5-way
joystick
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Our team plans to streamline the design, removing these
parts and passing configuration utility to the
Data/Display Management System.
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Dr. Cindy Harnett's laboratory is in need of up to 15
potentiostats for testing a variety of electrochemical
devices.
Off the shelf potentiostats range in price from $5-10k+,
which necessitates an affordable alternative that can be
both built and assembled by students.
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Must cost under $100
Must have the ability to measure
Electrochemical potential
Must be easy for undergrad and graduate
students to assemble and use
Must be well documented for future projects
and maintenance
Data/Display
Management
System
120VAC
60Hz
15A
USB
Processor
Voltage Converter
Device Under
Test
(DUT)
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Function of system as an entity
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Measures characteristics of electrolytic cells
Results of measurements reported from processor to
Data/Display Management System through USB
connection
Communicate results of test to user via Data/Display
Management System
Data/Display
Management
System
120VAC
60Hz
15A
USB
Processor
Voltage Converter
Device Under
Test
(DUT)
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Capturing the Configuration
Execute the measurement set
Report results of the measured set
Data/Display
Management
System
120VAC
60Hz
15A
USB
Processor
Voltage Converter
Device Under
Test
(DUT)
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System control - provide the user with means to specify
the appropriate parameters
Data logging - obtains records of the measurements
returned from the Potentiostat
Data display - view results on the PC
Data/Display
Management
System
120VAC
60Hz
15A
USB
Processor
Voltage Converter
Device Under
Test
(DUT)
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“Wall Wart”
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120VAC, 60Hz, 15A input power
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5VDC, up to .5A output power
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5VDC to 3.3VDC will be done on the PCB
If power consumption can be limited to 125mA input,
Device can be powered via USB, eliminating this system
component
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The PC is connected to the potentiostat
Software with a Graphical User Interface program will
run on a PC
The user will have the ability to change configuration of
the test device through the GUI program to send to the
potentiostat
Once the potentiostat is finished executing the test, the
user will then receive the results through the software
and have the ability to review them on the GUI.
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PC with USB connection
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For the Potentiostat to communicate with the PC, a
connection must be established through a USB
interface
DC Power Converter
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A DC power converter must be utilized within the
system to allow 120VAC, 60Hz, and 15A of
operational power
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USB Connection
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Windows Operating System
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Software to Software Interface
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The Potentiostat manages two functions
Data communication
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The function of this subcomponent is to
communicate all data from the PC Interfacing
Control to the Potentiostat system
Device Under Test (DUT) measurement
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The Data/Display Management System will
handle 4 main requirements through C# Program
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Simplistic GUI for Data Controlling
Transmit the configuration to the controller
Initiates measurement process
Retrieves raw data
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The PC Software will allow user to configure the test
profile
The user will have the ability to select various
waveforms and also set the maximum voltage applied by
the potentiostat
The results of each measurement will then be reported
back to the user
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CheapStat Parts to be ordered today
Designing the GUI portion of the PC Software to best fit
requirements
Testing preexisting Cheapstat