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EmStat Pico Module
Proven, tested and calibrated dual-channel potentiostat
- Enables rapid prototyping, no programming skills needed
- Easy to reproduce measurements using MethodSCRIPT
- Support from Analog Devices & PalmSens
- Used by 200+ OEM customers
PalmSens usually responds to your quotation request within one business day.
Description
The EmStat Pico is a proven stand-alone potentiostat module which enables you to perform electrochemical measurements using your own electrochemical sensor without programming skills. You can integrate this small dual-channel module on your PCB without any potentiostat knowledge thanks to the joint development by Analog Devices Inc and PalmSens. Our tested and calibrated modules are used by over 100+ OEM customers in over 30 countries. Our network, experience and support will help you succeed and save development time with the smallest potentiostat module on the market.
- Dimensions: 18 x 30 x 2.6 mm
- Dual channel (2x WE, 2x RE, 2x CE)
- EIS frequency range: 0.016 Hz to 200 kHz
- Full dc-potential range: -1.7 V to +2 V
- Current ranges: 100 nA to 5 mA
- Four different versions available, each with different electrochemical techniques.
Please contact us for both low-volume and high-volume quotes. The EmStat Pico module and EmStat Pico Development Kit are also available on Arrow and Digi-Key.
EmStat Pico Development Kit
Sensit Smart with integrated EmStat Pico
Supported techniques
There are four different versions available, each with different electrochemical techniques: A, B, C and ALL. The default version is ALL, from 50+ units the A, B and C versions are available.
Voltammetric techniques |
A | B | C | ALL | |
| Linear Sweep Voltammetry | LSV |  |
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| Cyclic Voltammetry | CV | |
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| Square Wave Voltammetry | SWV | |
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| Differential Pulse Voltammetry | DPV | |
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| Normal Pulse Voltammetry | NPV | |
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Techniques as a function of time |
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| Chronoamperometry | CA | |
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| Pulsed Amperometric Detection | PAD | |
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| Open Circuit Potentiometry | OCP | |
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| MultiStep Amperometry | MA | |
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| Electrochemical Impedance Spectroscopy | EIS | |
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Specifications
The module works at three different modes;
Low Speed mode: for scan rates up to 1 V/s or a bandwidth of 100 Hz.
High Speed mode: for high scan rates and frequencies.
Max Range mode: a combination of the Low and High Speed modes for optimal dynamic dc-potential range.
| Low Speed mode | High Speed mode | Max Range mode | |
|---|---|---|---|
| General | |||
| Full dc-potential range | -1.2 to +2 V | -1.7 to +2 V | -1.7 to +2 V |
| Dynamic dc-potential range [1] | 2.2 V | 1.2 V | 2.6 V |
| Compliance voltage | -2.0 to +2.3 V [2] | ||
| Maximum current | ± 3 mA | ||
| Max. acquisition rate (datapoints/s) |
100 | 1000 | 100 |
| Supports FRA/EIS | NO | YES | NO |
| Potentiostat (controlled potential mode) | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Channels | 2 (2x WE, 2x RE and 2x CE) | ||
| Applied dc-potential resolution | 537 µV | 395 µV | 932 µV |
| Applied potential accuracy | < 0.2% | < 0.5% | < 0.5% |
| Current ranges | 100 nA, 2 uA, 4 uA, 8 uA, 16 uA, 32 uA, 63 uA, 125 uA, 250 uA, 500 uA, 1 mA, 5 mA |
100 nA, 1 uA, 6 uA, 13 uA, 25 uA, 50 uA, 100 uA, 200 uA, 1 mA, 5 mA |
100 nA, 1 uA, 6 uA, 13 uA, 25 uA, 50 uA, 100 uA, 200 uA, 1 mA, 5 mA |
| Current accuracy | < 0.5 % of the selected current range < 2% for 100 nA current range |
< 1% of the selected current range < 2% for 100 nA current range < 2% for 5 mA current range |
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| Measured current resolution | 0.006% of selected current range (5.5 pA on 100 nA range) |
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| Measured potential resolution (for OCP) | 56 uV | ||
| FRA / EIS (impedance measurements) | |
|---|---|
| Frequency range | 0.016 Hz to 200 kHz |
| Ac-amplitude range | 1 mV to 0.25 V rms, or 0.708 V p-p |
| Bipotentiostat | |
|---|---|
| Modes | 1. WE2 at fixed potential (E offset vs RE1) 2. WE2 scanning (E offset vs WE1) |
| Max. potential WE2 | ΔE(WE1) + ΔE(WE2) < 1.6 V [3] |
| Electrometer | |
|---|---|
| Electrometer amplifier input | > 1 TΩ // 10 pF |
| Bandwidth | 250 kHz |
| Communications and peripherals | |
|---|---|
| Module communication | UART |
| Communication with external peripherals | SPI and I2C |
| Analog I/O | 3 analog input pins |
| Digital I/O | 7 general-purpose I/O pins 1 wake-up pin |
| On-board temperature sensor | ±2 °C or ±0.25 °C [4] |
| Other | |
|---|---|
| Storage | 4000 datapoints on-board (supports optional external SD card for mass storage) |
| Mounting | Surface mounted with castellated pads Through hole pins (2.54 mm pitch) |
| Dimensions | 30.5 mm X 18 mm X 2.6 mm |
| Operation temperature range | -40°C to +85°C |
[1] The dynamic range is the range that can be covered during a single scan within the full potential range. For example; a linear scan can start at -1.5 V and end at 1.1 V or vice versa, covering 2.6 V dynamic range.
[2] The compliance voltage is the maximum potential between Working and Counter electrode and depends on the selected mode.
[3] If your main WE1 is scanning from -0.5V to +0.5V, the WE2 can only have a maximum offset of 0.6V.
[4] The high accurate on-board temperature sensor is standard available on modules that come with the EmStat Pico Development Kit. For separate EmStat Pico modules the temperature sensor is optional.
Dual-channel and Bipotentiostat functionality
The second channel of the EmStat Pico can be used for running sequential measurements on two different cells each with their own Reference, Counter and Working electrodes.
The second channel can also be used in Bipotentiostat mode, functioning as second Working Electrode versus the Reference and Counter electrode of channel 1. Both channels are recorded simultaneously in the Bipotentiostat mode.
The second Working Electrode (WE2) can either be set at a potential offset with respect to WE1 or at a fixed potential with respect to RE1.
The Bipotentiostat mode is supported in Low Speed mode (see table above) for all techniques, excluding EIS and OCP.
EIS Accuracy Contour Plot
Software
Develop software for PC, smartphone or microcontroller
Whether you want to write a simple or advanced Windows application, develop an Android or iPhone app or integrate the EmStat Pico in your own hardware, you can do it with our software development tools and code examples.
Overview of software development toolsThe EmStat Pico Development Board can also be controlled directly with our PSTrace software for Windows and PStouch app for Android.
Software Development Kits for .NET
The PalmSens Software Development Kits (SDKs) for .NET can be used with any of our instruments or OEM potentiostat modules to develop your own software. The SDK’s come with a set of examples that shows how to use the libraries.
PalmSens SDKs with examples are available for the following .NET Frameworks:
- WinForms
- WPF
- Xamarin (for Android)
- UWP
MethodSCRIPT™ communications protocol
The EmStat Pico potentiostat module has an on-board parser for the MethodSCRIPT™ scripting language. This language allows developers to program a human-readable script for the EmStat Pico module on any platform or operating system. The simple script language allows for running electrochemical techniques supported by EmStat Pico and makes it easy to combine different measurements and other tasks.
Downloads
| Name | Type | Last updated | |
|---|---|---|---|
| EmStat Pico datasheet Contains the information you need for integration of the EmStat Pico in your electronics design. | datasheet | 18-10-21 | |
| EmStat Pico Description Description of the EmStat Pico module and software tools | documentation | 18-10-21 | |
| EmStat Pico RoHS statement | documentation | 28-07-21 | |
| EmStat Pico Reliability Report This report describes the tests performed on the EmStat Pico to confirm the reliability and evaluate the accelerated lifetime. | documentation | 26-07-21 | |
| Introduction to electrochemical sensing – Tutorial The first part of this presentation contains how electrochemistry works and how it can be used for sensing applications. The second half explains what a potentiostat is and which applications are suitable for the EmStat Pico potentiostat offered by PalmSens. Details of the EmStat Pico’s capabilities will be shown, as well as instructions on how to use it. | other | 15-07-21 | |
| Vitamin C Detection with ItalSens IS-C This application note describes how to create a calibration for quantitative measurements of vitamin C. Due to the detailed description and harmless solutions this an excellent electrochemical experiment with liquids for beginners in the field of electrochemistry. | application-note | 27-01-21 | |
| Limitations for EIS on EmStat Pico | application-note | 18-12-20 | |
| EmStat Pico module for Bio-FET application Field-effect transistor-based biosensors have drawn attentions due to its potential for small-scale, low cost, high-throughput and sensitive devices. Applications based on Bio-FET include, but not limited to, ion sensing, detection of DNA hybridization and protein binding. | application-note | 30-11-20 | |
| pH Measurement using EmStat Pico This article shows the ease of integration of the device into a system and demonstrates the range of applications of the potentiostat module by detailing three different electrochemical measurements: OCP (pH), cyclic voltammetry, and EIS. | application-note | 07-09-20 | |
| EmStat Pico footprint for Altium EmStat Pico footprint for use with Altium PCB Designer | other | 14-05-20 | |
| MethodSCRIPT v1.2 protocol description MethodSCRIPT v1.2 protocol description | documentation | 28-04-20 | |
| MethodSCRIPT v1.1 protocol description MethodSCRIPT v1.1 protocol description | documentation | 17-04-20 | |
| EmStat Pico example test report EmStat Pico example test report | documentation | 08-04-20 | |
| EmStat Pico firmware updating Shows how to update the firmware on an EmStat Pico module | application-note | 08-04-20 | |
| EmStat Pico communication protocol v1.2 Describes the EmStat Pico communications protocol which is based on MethodSCRIPT | documentation | 08-04-20 | |
| 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. | software | 08-04-20 | |
| EmStat Pico 3D model 3D STEP file of the EmStat Pico module | other | 08-02-20 | |
| EmStat Pico communication protocol v1.1 Describes the EmStat Pico communications protocol which is based on MethodSCRIPT | documentation | 28-08-19 |