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The Chemical Educator
ISSN: 1430-4171 (electronic version)
Abstract Volume 17
(2012) pp 100-104
DOI 10.1007/s00897122425a
Versatile Instrumental Assemblage for the Study of Commercial Electrochemical Cells
Domingo González-Arjona*, Emilio Roldán González, Germán López-Pérez and Manuel M. Domínguez Pérez
Department of Physical Chemistry,
Faculty of Chemistry, University of Sevilla, E-41012, dgonza@us.es
Received January 9, 2012. Accepted May 16, 2012.
Published: 15 June 2012
Abstract. A method for the characterization of primary and secondary cells is described using a digitally controlled galvanostat operated during long measurement periods. Control and data acquisition are performed using an open source programmable prototype single-board microcontroller. The collected data are saved in a text file which can be easily converted to spreadsheet for subsequent analysis. The cost of the entire system is less than $120, not including the PC used for the prototype control, which need not be top-of-the-line considering the low system requirements. In fact, the operating system can be relegated to an open source Linux.
Key Words: Laboratories and Demonstrations; physical chemistry; electrochemistry; laboratory instrumentation; batteries characterization
(*) Corresponding author. (E-mail: dgonza@us.es)
Article in PDF format (209 KB) HTML format
Supporting Materials:
More detailed setup instructions, programs and circuits schematics are included in the supplemental material. Printed circuit board sheet and the programs Arduino compatible text files can be provided by the authors upon request. (126 KB)
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