Electrochemistry Glossary
ADC/DAC Resolution
The resolution of the Analog-to-Digital or Digital-to-Analog converter. In the context of ADCs and DACs, resolution refers to the number of discrete output levels they can generate.
Applied Potential Accuracy
The precision of the applied voltage in measurements.
Applied Potential Resolution
The smallest difference in applied voltage that can be detected.
Applied Potential Range
The range of voltages that can be applied in a measurement setup.
Bandwidth
The range of frequencies a system can process effectively.
ChronoAmp
A technique used in electrochemical analysis for measuring current versus time.
Battery Cycling
The testing process technique for batteries is based on repeated and successive charge and discharge phases.
Control Amplifier
Main active electronic device & part of the analog control loop of a potentiostat, delivering power to an electrochemical cell.
ChronoPot
A technique used in electrochemical analysis for measuring potential versus time.
Cyclic Voltammetry (CV)
A technique used to study the electrochemical properties of a substance. It involves applying a potential to a working electrode and measuring the resulting current. The technique is used to characterize new electrochemical systems, study redox reactions, and more.
Constant Current Mode
A mode where the galvanostat maintains a fixed current during the experiment.
Charge/Discharge
The process of storing energy (charge) or releasing energy (discharge) in electrochemical cells, such as batteries.
Current Control
The mechanism by which the galvanostat adjusts voltage to maintain constant current.
Current
Physical quantity describing the flow of charged particles (electrons, ions) in a conductor (SI unit: A)
Counter electrode
An auxiliary electrode allows current to flow through the cell.
Discharge Efficiency
The ratio of the energy delivered during discharge to the energy used during charging, reflects the efficiency of an energy storage device.
Data Acquisition Rate
The speed at which data is collected from a measurement system.
Differential Pulse Voltammetry (DPV)
A technique in electrochemistry for analyzing the current response to a series of potential pulses.
Electrode potential (Voltage)
The quantity that describes the potential difference between both sides of the electrode interface (SI unit: V).
Electrochemical Biosensor
A device that uses electrochemical principles to detect biological substances, such as glucose or pathogens.
Galvanic Corrosion
Corrosion that occurs when two different metals are in electrical contact in a corrosive environment.
Internal resistance
Generic term that does not designate a specific resistance in the battery. It is a loose characteristic of the battery.
Input Bias Current
The small current that flows into the input terminals of an operational amplifier.
Input Impedance
A device or circuit’s opposition to the input signal.
Impedance
A measure of the resistance and reactance of the electrode surface to the current, often used in biosensing for detecting binding events.
Lithium-Ion
A common type of rechargeable battery that uses lithium ions as charge carriers.
Linear Sweep Voltammetry (LSV)
A technique that measures current as a function of voltage. Used to study electrochemical systems, investigate electron transfer reactions, and characterize organic and inorganic synthesis, sensors, and biological systems. It is also known as linear polarization. LSV involves applying a linearly increasing potential to electrodes. The resulting current-potential curve is called a voltammogram.
Maximum ADC Sampling Speed
The highest rate at which an ADC (Analog-to-Digital Converter) can sample data.
Measured Current Accuracy
The precision of current measurements taken by the system.
Measured Current Resolution
The smallest current difference that can be detected in measurements.
Measured Potential Accuracy
It is the degree of precision with which a potentiostat can differentiate between measurement points. It’s a specification of a potentiostat, which is an instrument that measures the potential difference between two electrodes.
Open Circuit Potential (OCP)
Refers to the electrical potential difference between two points in a circuit when no current is flowing, essentially meaning the circuit is “open” and no electricity is passing through it; it’s also sometimes called the “zero-current potential” or “resting potential” and is often used in corrosion studies to monitor the potential of a material in a corrosive environment without actively applying a current to it.
Potentiostat / Galvanostat
Electronic device capable of applying a voltage and measuring the current response (or vice versa) of an electrochemical interface.
ting binding events.
Power Density
The rate at which energy can be delivered by an energy storage device.
Reference Electrode
The electrode is used to measure the potential difference of an electrochemical interface. Its potential is stable because it is not traversed by a current.
Sacrificial Anode
A more reactive metal (often zinc or magnesium) is used to protect a less reactive metal from corrosion, commonly used in marine applications.
Scan Rate
The rate at which the potential is swept in experiments like cyclic voltammetry.
Solid-State Battery
A type of battery that uses a solid electrolyte instead of a liquid one, offering improved safety and performance.
Separator
A material placed between the anode and cathode in a battery to prevent short-circuiting while allowing ion flow.
State of Charge (SoC)
The current charge level of a battery is usually represented as a percentage.
Slew Rate (No Load)
The maximum rate of change of a voltage or current at an electronic circuit’s output, measured when no additional load is connected to it, meaning the circuit is not actively driving any external component; essentially, it represents the fastest possible transition in the output voltage under ideal conditions without the limitations imposed by a load.
Square Wave Voltammetry (SWV)
An electrochemical technique that utilizes a specific potential waveform consisting of a staircase potential with superimposed square wave pulses, allowing for highly sensitive detection of analytes in a solution by measuring the resulting current response
Voltage Limiting
The setting that prevents the voltage from exceeding a predefined value during a galvanostatic experiment.