EmStat4M Module
Tested & calibrated potentiostat module
- Desktop performance in the palm of your hand
- Enables rapid prototyping
- Easy to reproduce measurements using MethodSCRIPT™
- Many code examples for different languages and platforms
Description
The EmStat4M is a potentiostat/galvanostat module supporting all common electrochemical techniques, including Electrochemical Impedance Spectroscopy (EIS). The EmStat4M can be evaluated with our PSTrace software for Windows. You can write your own applications for the EmStat4M module using our .NET libraries or MethodSCRIPT™ and control it from any platform or operating system.
Versions
The EmStat4M comes in two different versions:
- Low Range (LR): current range from 1 nA to 10 mA (max. 30 mA)
- High Range (HR): current ranges from 100 nA to 100 mA (max. 200 mA)
Both versions can be configured with optional EIS/FRA with a maximum frequency of 200 kHz.
See specifications for more information.
Onboard storage
Every EmStat4M is equipped with an internal storage of 500 MB, equivalent to 15 million data points.
This means all your measurements can automatically be saved onboard as a backup.
Start developing with the EmStat4M
The EmStat4M module can be ordered as a bare module or as part of a kit. We offer a Starter Kit and Development Kit as well. The Starter Kit includes a sensor cable, software, and more. The Development Kit comes with the EmStat4M module mounted on a development board. The development board features a Bluetooth module, Li-Ion battery charging, and options for making external connections to an Arduino for example. See the table below for an overview of what is included in both kits.
| Module only | Starter Kit | Development Kit | |
| EmStat4M LR or HR module | |||
| Development Board | – | – | |
| USB-C cable | – | ||
| USB-C splitter cable for extra power (EmStat4M HR only) | – | ||
| Sensor cable (1 meter with 2 mm pins) | – | ||
| 4 or 5 croc clips | – | ||
| Dummy Cell | – | ||
| PSTrace software for Windows (on USB drive) | – | ||
| Quick Start document | – | ||
| Calibration report | – |
Techniques
Voltammetric techniques
Pulsed techniques
Amperometric techniques
Potentiometric techniques
Impedimetric techniques
Other
Specifications
The EmStat4M is available in two versions: LR (Low Range) and HR (High Range).
| Main differences between the EmStat4M Low and High Range | ||
|
|
|
| EMSTAT4M LR™ | EMSTAT4M HR™ | |
| Potential range | ±3 V | ±6 V |
|---|---|---|
| Max. compliance voltage
The compliance voltage is the maximum voltage that can be applied between the working and counter electrode. Another name could be the maximum cell potential. Continue reading
|
±5 V | ±8 V |
Current ranges
A current range defines the maximum current a potentiostat can measure in a certain range. Continue reading
|
1 nA to 10 mA (8 ranges) | 100 nA to 100 mA (7 ranges) |
| Max. current | ±30 mA | ±200 mA |
| Electrode connections | WE, RE, CE, and ground | WE, RE, CE, Sense, and ground |
| General | ||
|---|---|---|
| LR | HR | |
dc-potential range
The maximum potential difference, that can be applied between WE and RE.
|
±3 V | ±6 V |
compliance voltage
The compliance voltage is the maximum voltage that can be applied between the working and counter electrode. Another name could be the maximum cell potential. Continue reading
|
±5 V | ±8 V |
| maximum current | ±30 mA | ±200 mA |
max. data acquisition rate
Also known as Sampling Rate, it describes how fast the instrument can collect measurement values. Continue reading
|
1 000 000 samples /s | |
| Potentiostat | ||
|---|---|---|
| LR | HR | |
| applied potential resolution | 100 µV | 183 µV |
applied potential accuracy
The applied potential accuracy describes how close to the real values your applied potential is.
|
≤ 0.2% ±1 mV offset |
|
current ranges
A current range defines the maximum current a potentiostat can measure in a certain range. Continue reading
|
1 nA to 10 mA 8 ranges |
100 nA to 100 mA 7 ranges |
measured current resolution
The lowest observable difference between two values that a measurement device can differentiate between. Continue reading
|
0.009% of CR (92 fA on 1 nA range)
CR is the acronym we use for Current Range. A current range defines the maximum current a potentiostat can measure in a certain range. Continue reading
|
|
| measured current accuracy
The current accuracy describes how close to the real values your measured current is. Continue reading
|
≤ 0.2% at Full Scale Range | |
| Galvanostat | ||
|---|---|---|
| LR | HR | |
current ranges
A current range defines the maximum current a potentiostat can measure in a certain range. Continue reading
|
10 nA, 1 uA, 100 uA, 10 mA 4 ranges |
1 uA, 100 uA, 10 mA, 100 mA 4 ranges |
| applied dc-current |
±3 * CR (current range)
CR is the acronym we use for Current Range. A current range defines the maximum current a potentiostat can measure in a certain range. Continue reading
|
|
| applied dc-current resolution |
0.01% of CR |
0.0183% of CR |
| applied dc- current accuracy
The current accuracy describes how close to the real values your measured current is. Continue reading
|
<0.4% (gain) + 0.002 * CR (offset)
CR is the acronym we use for Current Range. A current range defines the maximum current a potentiostat can measure in a certain range. Continue reading
|
|
| measured dc-potential resolution |
96 µV at ±3 V (1 V range) |
193 µV at ±6 V (1 V range) |
| measured dc-potential accuracy | ≤ 0.2% ±1 mV offset | |
| FRA / EIS | ||
|---|---|---|
| LR | HR | |
| frequency range | 10 µHz to 200 kHz | |
| ac-amplitude range |
1 mV to 900 mV rms, or 2.5 V p-p |
|
| measured current accuracy
The current accuracy describes how close to the real values your measured current is. Continue reading
|
≤ 0.2% at Full Scale Range | |
| GEIS | ||
|---|---|---|
| LR | HR | |
| frequency range | 10 µHz to 100 kHz | |
| ac-amplitude range |
0.9 * CR (Arms)
CR is the acronym we use for Current Range. A current range defines the maximum current a potentiostat can measure in a certain range. Continue reading
|
|
| Electrometer | ||
|---|---|---|
| LR | HR | |
electrometer amplifier input
The amplifier input resistance of the amplifier in the electrometer determines the load that the amplifier places on the source of the signal being fed into it. Ideally the resistance is infinite, and the load to be zero to not to influence your measurement.
|
> 1 TΩ // 10 pF | |
bandwidth
Bandwidth defines the range of frequencies a system can accurately measure or respond to. Continue reading
|
10 kHz default or 500 kHz for EIS and fast CA/CP |
|
| Other | ||
|---|---|---|
| LR | HR | |
| electrode connections |
WE, RE, CE, |
WE, RE, CE, S |
| dimensions | 62 mm X 40 mm X 7 mm | |
| weight | ± 130 g | |
| power + communication | USB-C port | |
| internal storage space | 500 MB, equivalent to > 15M datapoints | |
| EmStat4M LR EIS Accuracy Contour Plot |
|---|
|
| EmStat4M HR EIS Accuracy Contour Plot |
|---|
|
Software
Develop software for PC, smartphone or microcontroller
The EmStat module can be controlled directly with our PSTrace software for Windows and PStouch app for Android.
Whether you want to write a simple or advanced Windows application with Python, develop an Android or iPhone app or integrate the EmStat module in your own hardware, you can do it with our software development tools and code examples.
MethodSCRIPT™ communications protocol
MethodSCRIPT™ is a human-readable programmable language that runs directly on PalmSens’ latest generation of potentiostats and potentiostat modules.
The language supports all standard electrochemical techniques and allows you to combine, sequence, and customize them to build tailored measurement workflows. Once the device receives a script via PSTrace, a serial terminal, or your own custom software, it compiles and executes it on board with no pre-processing required from the host.
By shifting experimental logic and precise timing to the devices themselves, developers can rapidly integrate reliable and low-latency electrochemical applications into automated lab setups, embedded systems and finished end products.
Downloads
Software (5)
| Name | Last updated | |
|---|---|---|
| EmStat4 Firmware Find out more about the latest firmware and new features. Use PSTrace to change and upload the firmware. PSTrace also contains the latest firmware. | 30-06-26 | |
| PSTrace – PC software for all single channel instruments PSTrace software is shipped as standard with all single channel and multiplexed instruments. The software provides support for all techniques and device functionalities. | 30-06-26 | |
| Getting started with PalmSens SDKs This page explains how to use the Software Development Kits like Python, and for .NET MAUI with the included libraries and examples. | 02-06-26 | |
|
MethodSCRIPT code examples
MethodSCRIPT code examples include:
- MethodSCRIPTExample_C - MethodSCRIPTExample_C_Linux - MethodSCRIPTExample_C# - MethodSCRIPTExample_Arduino - MethodSCRIPTExample_Python - MethodSCRIPTExample_iOS - MethodSCRIPTExample_Android Every code example comes with a "Getting Started" document. |
07-07-24 | |
| PalmSens SDK for Python PalmSens Python SDK 5.12 with support for instruments from PalmSens BV on Windows systems. | 07-11-22 |
Documentation (13)
| Name | Last updated | |
|---|---|---|
| EmStat4M Communication Protocol V1.6 Describes how to communicate with the EmStat4M directly and how to send MethodSCRIPTS. | 12-06-26 | |
| EmStat4M Communication Protocol V1.5 Describes how to communicate with the EmStat4M directly and how to send MethodSCRIPTS. | 24-03-26 | |
| EmStat4M Brochure EmStat4M Brochure including main specifications and practical limitations. | 02-02-26 | |
| EmStat4M Communication Protocol V1.4 Describes how to communicate with the EmStat4M directly and how to send MethodSCRIPTS. | 10-10-25 | |
| MethodSCRIPT v1.5 The MethodSCRIPT scripting language is designed to improve the flexibility of the PalmSens potentiostat and galvanostat devices for OEM users. It allows users to start measurements with arguments that are similar to the arguments in PSTrace. PalmSens provides libraries and examples for handling low level communication and generating scripts for MethodSCRIPT devices such as the EmStat Pico and EmStat4. | 25-03-24 | |
| EmStat4M Communication Protocol V1.3 Describes how to communicate with the EmStat4M directly and how to send MethodSCRIPTS. | 25-03-24 | |
| EmStat Pico and EmStat4 bootloader commands This document explains how to enter the bootloader of the EmStat Pico or the EmStat4M and update the firmware. | 05-10-23 | |
| EmStat4M Communication Protocol V1.2 Describes how to communicate with the EmStat4M directly and how to send MethodSCRIPTS. | 01-02-23 | |
| MethodSCRIPT v1.4 The MethodSCRIPT scripting language is designed to improve the flexibility of the PalmSens potentiostat and galvanostat devices for OEM users. It allows users to start measurements with arguments that are similar to the arguments in PSTrace. PalmSens provides libraries and examples for handling low level communication and generating scripts for MethodSCRIPT devices such as the EmStat Pico and EmStat4. | 01-02-23 | |
| EmStat4M Connection Card This connection card provides an overview of the connector pin-outs. | 14-03-22 | |
| MethodSCRIPT v1.3 The MethodSCRIPT scripting language is designed to improve the flexibility of the PalmSens potentiostat and galvanostat devices for OEM users. It allows users to start measurements with arguments that are similar to the arguments in PSTrace. PalmSens provides libraries and examples for handling low level communication and generating scripts for MethodSCRIPT devices such as the EmStat Pico and EmStat4. | 19-01-22 | |
| EmStat4M Communication Protocol V1.0 Describes how to communicate with the EmStat4M directly and how to send MethodSCRIPTS. | 14-10-21 | |
| MethodSCRIPT v1.2 MethodSCRIPT v1.2 protocol description | 28-04-20 |
Datasheet (1)
| Name | Last updated | |
|---|---|---|
| EmStat4M Datasheet Document with more detailed specifications including module pin-out. | 21-01-26 |
Other (2)
| Name | Last updated | |
|---|---|---|
| EmStat4M 3D STEP File Contains two STEP files for both EmStat4M LR and HR. Note that the optional USB connector at the bottom is normally not populated. The HR does not include the heat sinks on the heat pads. See also the EmStat4 HR Datasheet. | 19-08-24 | |
| EmStat4M Altium symbol and footprint The ZIP file contains an Altium library with EmStat4M footprint and symbol | 19-10-21 |
Application Note (1)
| Name | Last updated | |
|---|---|---|
| Migrating to the EmStat4M LR or HR This Application note shows the differences between our older and latest EmStat modules which are relevant when switching your software and electronics design to work with the EmStat4 LR or HR. | 06-10-22 |

