Potentiostats and galvanostats are key tools in electrochemistry that make it possible to precisely control and analyse electrochemical reactions. While a potentiostat controls the potential between a working electrode and a reference electrode and simultaneously measures the resulting current, a galvanostat keeps the current constant and records the change in potential. These two operating modes are essential for the investigation of electrochemical processes such as corrosion analyses, battery research, sensor development or the characterisation of materials. In combination with a frequency response analyser, impedance measurements can also be carried out, allowing deeper insights into reaction kinetics and material properties.
The PalmSens4 combines these functions in a compact and versatile device that can be used both in the laboratory and in the field. It is a USB and battery-powered potentiostat, galvanostat and optional frequency response analyser (FRA) for electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS). With a wide potential range of ±5 V or ±10 V (each with ±1 mV offset) and a current range of 100 pA to 10 mA with an accuracy of ±0.1 %, the device offers high resolution with low noise. Despite its robust design and mobility, it remains a fully-fledged laboratory instrument and is a particularly flexible solution thanks to the Bluetooth connection option.
The PalmSens4 supports a wide range of electrochemical techniques. In the voltammetric field, these include linear sweep methods, fast cyclic methods as well as AC, differential pulse, square wave and normal pulse voltammetry. Chronoamperometry, chronocoulometry, various pulsed methods and multistep methods are available for amperometric analyses. Potentiometric methods such as stripping chronopotentiometry, linear sweep and open-circuit potentiometry are also supported. In addition, the device offers extensive options for impedimetric measurements, including DC potential sweeps, EIS time scans as well as potentiostatic and galvanostatic EIS.
The PSTrace software is used for evaluation and control and is designed so that users can work productively immediately after installation. In addition to a scientific mode, it offers specialised working environments for corrosion analysis and the analytical field. An integrated memory of 8 GB enables all measurements to be saved automatically so that no data is lost, even in mobile use.
