Testing the Effectiveness of

Open Source Potentiostat

in Varied Electrochemical
and Deposition Reactions
Depositing Hydroxyapatite In Altered Reactor Setup and
Collecting Standard Electrochemical and Corrosion Data

Robert T. Cecil, Matthew Z. Yates, PhD

Yates Lab Group
Introduction and Importance
• A potentiostat/galvanostat is an electrical device
through which a large number of tests and
measurements can be facilitated.

• The open source potentiostat used is both

compact and cost effective (approx. 1/10th cost
of comparative commercial instruments), making
the device highly portable and accessible.

• Hydroxyapatite (HAP) is a compound naturally

found in bones and teeth.

• HAP is used in creating sturdy surgical and dental

implants that naturally integrate themselves with
the body and are resistant to infection when
coated with metal nanoparticles.
 Potentiostat Comparison
Cyclic Voltammogram of
Hexacyanoferrate ● The following are comparisons of
the open source potentiostat to that
0.025
of a commercial potentiostat and pH
0.020
meter.
0.015
Current (mA)

0.010
● To compare potentiostats, a
0.005 standard cyclic voltammogram was
0.000 run on 10mM hexacyanofearrate in
-0.4 -0.2 -0.005 0.0 0.2 0.4 0.6
McIlvaine buffer at a ramp rate of
-0.010 10mV/s.
-0.015
Voltage (V)
● CV allows for characterization,
Commercial Open Source typically having a distinct profile
from compound to compound.
 Potentiostat Comparison Cont.

Measurement of pH Buffer Standards ● To compare the open source potentiostat

200 to the pH meter, buffer standards at pH 4,
150 7, and 10 were used to measure voltage
100 and graphed.
50
● Once 2 to 3 points are obtained, a line can
mV

0
-50 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 be graphed and can be used to measure
pH of unknown solutions.
-100
-150
● In both tests, the open source
-200
potentiostat was comparable in its ability
pH
to take accurate measurements. This
Commercial Open Source
allowed for the ability to further test the
instrument in electrochemical deposition
reactions.
Reactor Setup for HAP Deposition

● A specialized standard three

electrode cell was constructed to
carryout the new deposition.

● The reactor shape, surface

geometry, size, and preparation,
and electrode set up were altered
from standard procedure used in
our lab.

● Concentration, temperature, and

current density were kept constant.
Reactor Setup for HAP Deposition
Cont.
● Three electrodes were specially
prepared.

● From left to right:

○ The WE is an Au spring electrode

in contact with Ti substrate rod.

○ The CE is Pt wire.

○ The RE is a standard Ag/AgCl

reference electrode in 3M KCl
solution.
Successful Deposition and Characterization

● Deposition was attempted and a

scanning electron microscope was
used to verify deposition.

● Proper HAP was deposited onto the

Ti substrate in the altered reaction
conditions.

● In the left, even distribution of

crystals is evident and closer
magnification on the right shows
proper growth of the fine rods.
Characterization Cont.

● Standard electrochemical
corrosion tests were carried out
to characterize and study the
effects the coating had on the
surface of the Ti metal.

● Open current potential and cyclic

voltammetry were carried out on
a clean, bare Ti rod and then on an
HAP coated sample.

● Higher resistance, as shown in the

graphs above, is typically an
indicator of corrosion resistance.
Improvements and Augmentations

● To begin, we’ve begun to waterproof

the device, as there was originally no
type of covering or protection.

● Next, we’ve significantly increased the

output of the device from +/-25 mA
and +/-8V to +/-200 mA and +/- 12V.

● This allows us to begin effectively

depositing metal nanoparticles onto
the HAP with the new reactor setup.

● Similar testing previously discussed

will be conducted on this model, to
which submission for publication will
follow.
Acknowledgments

● Dobbelaere, Thomas, Philippe M. Vereecken, and Christophe Detavernier. "A USB-

controlled potentiostat/galvanostat for thin-film battery characterization."
HardwareX 2 (2017): 34-49.

● Eliaz, Noam, and T. M. Sridhar. "Electrocrystallization of hydroxyapatite and its

dependence on solution conditions." Crystal Growth and Design 8.11 (2008): 3965-
3977.

● A special thank you to Professor Matthew Z. Yates from the Department of Chemical
Engineering for leading this project and serving as a mentor, as well as Rashmi Ghosh
and Paul Irving.

● Thank you to the McNair Scholar Program and the Kearns Center at the UofR for
funding and making this research project possible!