Electrochemical Analyses

Solid-state electrochemistry is used as a crucial analytical tool to investigate ion and electron transport, decomposition behavior at interfaces and forming interphases, Red-Ox processes of active materials and battery cell performance.

Potentiostats – The variability of potentiostats is crucial for in-depth electrochemical investigations and a multitude of different potentiostats are in use. While the electrochemical cells are mostly custom built, they are typically connected in controlled temperature environments.

Instrument specifications:

  Variable RT application Standard T-dep. impedance Variable T-dep. application Low noise potentiostat application
Voltage range 10 V 10 V 10 V 10 V
Resolution 76 µV 76 µV 76 µV 3 µV
Current range 10 nA to 500 mA 10 nA to 500 mA 10 nA to 500 mA 10 nA to 500 mA *
Resolution 0.76 pA 0.76 pA 0.76 pA 0.03 pA
Impedance spectroscopy        
Frequency range 7MHz - 10µHz 7MHz - 10µHz 7MHz - 10µHz 1MHz - 10µHz
Resolution <0,0001% <0,0001% <0,0001% <0,003%
VRMS (mV) 0.1 to 2500 0.1 to 2500 0.1 to 2500 0.2 to 350
EIS voltage resolution 0,76 µV for ±25 mV 0,76 µV for ±25 mV 0,76 µV for ±25 mV  
T-range 25 °C −40 to 60°C −20 to 45°C 10 to 60 °C

*up to 10 A Booster

Under Pressure – Set-ups for pressure monitoring and active pressure control of solid-state cells are available. With pressures up to 1.7 GPa, changes to ionic conductivity can be monitored in-situ in house and have been shown to alter the microstructure of softer solids.

Instrument specifications:

  Custom setup High pressure
Force uniaxial up to ~5 kN 75 kN (up to 1.7 GPa @ 6mm Ø)
Force accuracy 0.1% 0.1%
Cells Ø 10 mm Coin-cell Ø 6, 12 mm Coin-cell
Temperature 25 °C −30 to +250 °C

Broadband Impedance spectroscopy – Specialized impedance spectrometers are available for impedance monitoring of (mostly solid) samples set up to be measured between −150 °C up to 1200 °C mostly under inert conditions.

Instrument specifications:

  Low Temperature High-Temperature
Contacting 2-wire 4-wire
Impedance spectroscopy    
Frequency range 20 MHz to 3 µHz 20 MHz to 3 µHz
Frequency accuracy 0.01% 0.01%
VRMS (mV) 0.045 to 1360 0.045 to 1360

Temperature Range (non-inert transfer)

 −160 to +150°C (+400 °C) RT to +1050 °C (+1200 °C)
Temperature Resolution 0.01 °C 0.1 °C
Heating/cooling rate 20 °C/min  
Modular Potentiostat available 15 V / 10 A 15 V / 10 A

Battery cycler – Battery cycling capabilities are available at controlled room temperature, or selectively between −20 and 45 °C.

Instrument specifications:

Voltage range ± 5V, 6V
Current range multiple 150 µA up to 5 A
T-range 25 °C, −40 to 60 °C

Interested? – Feel free to request collaborative measurements or instrument access to marvin.kraft@uni-muenster.de or ptill@uni-muenster.de.