The authoritative public forum
  for Metal Finishing since 1989
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POTENTIOSTAT / GALVANOSTAT

1999

Hi, I am a grad student and have just started to work on copper electroplating. I am interested in studying the microstructure evolution during electrodeposition and would be interested in doing some insitu characterization like STM and AFM and also TEM to understand to the mechanism of grain growth and role of additives both from a theoretical and exptl point of view.

I am in the process of setting up an electroplating unit and I am considering two potentiostat/galvanostat. one is the well-known EG&G PAR 273 and the other is the PC4 series potentiostat/galvanostat sold by Gamry instruments. When I look at the specs, the potentiostat offered by Gamry seems to be better (higher resolution, accuracy, input impedence and so on) than the EG&G 273. However, EG&G's model is very popular among people doing electrochemical research. Can anyone tell me the difference between the two and make a comparison. also, can someone please suggest about the things to look for when buying a potentiostat/galvanostat? Thanks Ramkumar

Ramkumar, Krishnan
- Cambridge, Massachusetts

Ed. note: Some instruments are more suitable for some situations, and some mediums are more suitable to some situations than others. A website like this, which entertains visits from largely anonymous readers, some of whom are shills no doubt, is not a good medium to compare one brand to another. So we would ask people to answer GENERICALLY "about the things to look for when buying a potentiostat/galvanostat".

I have worked on both instruments viz., e.g., & G PAR potentiostat/galvanostat (Model 173, Model 263A, Model 273A & Model 283) and GamryFramework System. GamryFramework System is very sensitive but easy to operate. Even your movement near the instrument may give fluctuating results / graphs. e.g., & G PAR potentiostat / galvanostat are more popular. However, check your purpose before buying the instrument. The above opinion is general in nature and for your information only.

Dr. Danish Jamal
- Pune, India
June 17, 2008