mobile-main-menu-button
Menu

How can we help? What do you want to learn? Search our knowledgebase.

WaveDriver Open Lead EIS Test

Last Updated: 5/21/19 by Neil Spinner

ARTICLE TAGS
  • WaveDriver test,
  • open lead,
  • EIS open lead
Article Contents/Section Navigation
  1. WaveDriver Open Lead EIS Test
    1. Arrange the Cell Cable
    2. Create a Potentiostatic EIS Experiment (EIS-POT)
    3. Audit Experimental Parameters
    4. Initiate the Experiment
    5. Monitor Experimental Progress
    6. Review the Results

1WaveDriver Open Lead EIS Test

An “open lead” test explores the absolute upper load measurement limit for EIS measurements across a range of frequencies.  Measurements made at these extreme limits fall well outside the outermost region of an Accuracy Contour Plot. EIS Accuracy Contour Plot The open lead test is simply a quick diagnostic test, and the results of the test should never be interpreted as a measurement of instrument accuracy.
 
This test is performed during the system testing of a Pine Research WaveDriver potentiostat (WaveDriver 200 WaveDriver 200 EIS Bipotentiostat/Galvanostat and WaveDriver 100 WaveDriver 100 EIS Potentiostat/Galvanostat models).
Back To Top

1.1Arrange the Cell Cable

Remove the alligator clips from the cell cable.  Configure the cell cable by shorting (stacking) together several pairs of banana plugs as follows:
 
  1. Stack the banana plugs for the RED and ORANGE leads together (first working electrode drive and sense).
  2. Stack the banana plugs for the GREEN and WHITE leads together (counter and reference).
  3. For WaveDriver 200 users only: stack the banana plugs for the BLUE and PURPLE leads together (second working electrode drive and sense).
 
Place the RED/ORANGE pair inside of a Faraday cage (see Figure 1).  Verify that the RED/ORANGE pair is not in direct electrical contact with any other conductive object inside the Faraday cage or with the Faraday cage itself.
 
Position the GREEN/WHITE pair outside of the Faraday cage.  If using a WaveDriver 200 Bipotentiostat/Galvanostat, also position the BLUE/PURPLE pair outside of the Faraday cage.  Verify that both pairs are not in contact with each other or with the Faraday cage or with any other conductive object.
 
Connect the GRAY cell cable banana plug directly to the metal Faraday cage.  This electrically connects the instrument chassis to the Faraday cage, which is normally a good practice in any EIS experiment.

NOTE: The “open lead” test result is very dependent upon the physical orientation of the cell cable.  The test should be performed with the banana plugs placed inside a Faraday cage, and the Faraday cage should be directly connected to the instrument chassis.  This test is meant as a diagnostic tool only and not as a concrete measurement of potentiostat accuracy.

Proper Cable Arrangement for an Open Lead EIS Measurement
1 The metal Faraday cage should have a lid (shown here in the open position)
2 The GRAY banana plug should be electrically connected to the metal Faraday cage
3 The RED/ORANGE lead pair should be placed inside the Faraday cage
4 The GREEN/WHITE lead pair should be placed outside the Faraday cage
5 The BLUE/PURPLE lead pair should be placed outside the Faraday cage. NOTE: This lead pair is only present on the WaveDriver 200 cell cable. These leads do not appear on the WaveDriver 100 cell cable.
Figure 1. Proper Cable Arrangement for an Open Lead EIS Measurement

NOTE: The WaveDriver 100 Potentiostat/Galvanostat is a single-channel instrument, meaning it does not have a second working electrode channel.  Therefore, its cell cable does not have BLUE or PURPLE leads.  All other cell cable lead positions (RED, ORANGE, GREEN, WHITE, and GRAY) should be arranged as shown in Figure 1.

Back To Top

1.2Create a Potentiostatic EIS Experiment (EIS-POT)

Choose the Potentiostatic Electrochemical Impedance Spectroscopy (EIS-POT) option from the AfterMath Experiments menu.  Configure the EIS-POT specification as shown (see Figure 2).
 
Parameters used for an Open Lead EIS Test
1 Click on the “I Feel Lucky” button. Note that default parameters for OCP Measurement Duration, AC Amplitude, DC Baseline, and Frequency Series appear automatically.
2 Set the OCP Measurement Duration to 1 s
3 Set the AC Amplitude to 50 mV
4 Set the DC Options Settle Period to 1 s
Figure 2. Parameters used for an Open Lead EIS Test

TIP: The "I Feel Lucky" button has been renamed "AutoFill" in versions of AfterMath later than May 2019. Newer versions may appear with this change in terminology; however, the functionality of the button remains the same.

Back To Top

1.3Audit Experimental Parameters

Choose the WaveDriver in the drop-down menu (see Figure 3, to the left of the “Audit” button).  Press the “Audit” button to check the parameters.  AfterMath will perform a quick audit of the parameter values to ensure that all required parameters have been specified and are within allowed ranges.
Back To Top

1.4Initiate the Experiment

Click on the “Perform” button to initiate the EIS-POT Open Lead experiment.  The “Perform” button is located to the right of the “Audit” button (see Figure 3).
 
Location of Instrument Selection Menu and Perform Button (EIS-POT)

Figure 3. Location of Instrument Selection Menu and Perform Button (EIS-POT)

Back To Top

1.5Monitor Experimental Progress

Monitor the progress of the experiment in AfterMath by observing the real time plot and the progress bar (see Figure 4).  The default live display shows Lissajous plots, but Bode or Nyquist plots can also be observed in real time if desired.
 
Monitoring the Progress of the EIS-POT Open Lead Experiment

Figure 4. Monitoring the Progress of the EIS-POT Open Lead Experiment

NOTE: During an EIS-POT experiment, the percentage complete value displayed at the bottom left portion of the screen refers to each individual frequency and is not indicative of the overall experimental progress.

Back To Top

1.6Review the Results

When the experiment has finished, the results of the experiment are placed in a folder within the archive.  The Bode plot is consistent with a nearly pure capacitive response, evidenced by the phase angle near -90° over a wide frequency range (see Figure 5).  At low frequencies, high impedance (≥100 GΩ) results in low current and a poor signal-to-noise ratio, which appears as scatter in the Bode plot.  Conversely, at high frequencies a “roll-off” effect is seen that is caused by parasitic inductive and capacitive effects in the cell cable.
 
Bode Plot for a Typical Open Lead EIS Test

Figure 5. Bode Plot for a Typical Open Lead EIS Test

 
The response observed in the Bode plot is indicative of a very small capacitive load (typically around 300 fF), and the highest impedance observed at low frequencies (≤10 Hz) is about 100 GΩ.  These values are primarily useful as diagnostic benchmarks and represent the absolute minimum capacitance and maximum impedance measurement capabilities of the WaveDriver.  Rather than relying upon open or shorted lead tests, the user should consult the Accuracy Contour Plot to determine practical measurement limits. Product Specifications
EIS Accuracy Contour Plot

TIP: Consult the instrument's Accuracy Contour Plot for practical EIS measurement limits.  Open lead test data should not be considered as potentiostat accuracy limits.  It is merely useful as a diagnostic tool.

Back To Top
Questions? Find Answers.

Our knowledgebase is the central repository for written content, including help topics, theory, application notes, specifications, and software information.

Select a category below or view the Knowledgebase home page
Software

Detailed information about our Software, which includes AfterMath and retired PineChem.

Applications

Application notes discuss practical aspects of conducting specific experiments.

Theory

Fundamental electrochemical theory presented in a brief and targeted manner.

Product Specifications

Review complete product specifications and compare products within a category here.