Using the 66-EI400 Bipotentiostat in the Undergraduate Laboratory

Christine E. MacTaylor, Salem State College, Salem, Massachusetts

At Salem State College the 66-EI400 potentiostat has recently been incorporated into the undergraduate laboratory. Specific experiments have been set up so that students can gain a clearer understanding of electrochemical phenomena through hands-on experimentation. One experiment involves cyclic voltammetry of the ferrocyanide/ ferricyanide redox system using different sized carbon fiber electrodes. In addition to learning what is happening during the redox process, students will learn to use the voltammograms to calculate both concentration and the size of the electroactive surface. Because various size electrodes are used, students can also examine the effect diffusion has on the voltammogram shape. Another laboratory involves setting up a "flowing stream" by running solution through Teflon tubing. The 66-EI400 is used to perform amperometry on the flowing stream and students calculate the amount of analyte detected.

In addition to using the 66-EI400 for laboratories, future plans include using it in conjunction with undergraduate research. The initial projects involve using the 66-EI400 to perform amperometry for capillary electrophoresis. Specific molecules of interest are proteins that will be made electroactive via derivatization.

The 66-EI400 is a great match for the electrochemistry experiments done at Salem State College because it works particularly well with carbon fiber microelectrodes that are inexpensive to make and simple enough to have undergraduates construct as a part of the laboratory experience. Undergraduates are able to grasp the differences between amperometry and voltammetry, the effects of various sized electrodes, the great sensitivity of electrochemistry, and gain a deeper understanding of how the Nernst equation can be applied to real situations.

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