Modular multi-channel potentiostat
Inventors
Pansodtee, Pattawong • Teodorescu, Mircea • Rolandi, Marco
Assignees
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Publication Number
US-12644861-B2
Publication Date
2026-06-02
Expiration Date
Abstract
A potentiostat is an essential piece of analytical equipment for studying electrochemical devices and reactions. As the design of electrochemical devices evolve, applications for systems with multiple working electrodes have become more common. These applications drive a need for low-cost multi-channel potentiostat systems. Embodiments describe herein include a portable, low-cost and scalable system with a modular design that can support 8 to 64 channels at a cost as low as $8 per channel. This design can replace the functionality of commercial potentiostats which cost upwards of $10k for certain applications. Each channel in the multi-channel potentiostat has an independent adjustable voltage source with a built-in ammeter and switch, making the device flexible for various configurations. The multi-channel potentiostat can be designed for low current applications (nA range), but its purpose can change by varying its shunt resistor value. The system can either function as a standalone device or remotely controlled. We demonstrate the functionality of this system for the control of a 24-channel bioelectronic ion pump for open- and closed-loop control of pH.
Core Innovation
The invention provides a modular, portable, low-cost multi-channel potentiostat scalable from 8 to 64 channels. It uses a base printed circuit board/controller and one or more modules each comprising stackable printed circuit boards that are mountable to the base printed circuit board. The potentiostat is modularly configured to control a selected plurality of channels by applying one of a plurality of voltages to two or more electrodes in an electrochemical cell and receiving a response from a selected number of the electrodes.
Each potentiostat circuit controls a voltage between two or more electrodes in the electrochemical cell, with independently adjustable voltage sources for each selected channel. Electrode connections are switchable, and the system includes a multiplexer, clock, DAC/level-shifter for output generation, and shunt-based current-to-voltage conversion feeding an ADC for current measurement. The architecture supports receiving responses corresponding to electrode groups selected for control.
The system can operate standalone or be controlled via a remote API over Ethernet/Wi-Fi using UDP, and it logs data to CSV. The documented validation includes cyclic voltammetry compared to a commercial Autolab system and correlation of amperometry/fluorescence in a multi-electrode bioelectronic ion pump with closed-loop control of pH using fluorescent imaging feedback.
Claims Coverage
The independent claim covers a modular potentiostat hardware architecture with a base printed circuit board and one or more stackable potentiostat modules for controlling a selected plurality of electrode channels and receiving corresponding responses. The claim set further includes refinements for circuit structure, remote API logging, and imaging/fluorescence correlation.
Modular potentiostat base with stackable printed circuit boards for selected electrode channels
A potentiostat comprising a base printed circuit board; a power supply; a multiplexer; a clock; and a computer mounted on and electrically connected to the base printed circuit board; and one or more modules each comprising a stackable printed circuit board, wherein the one or more modules each comprise a potentiostat circuit connectable to the base printed circuit board, wherein the potentiostat circuit controls a voltage between two or more electrodes in an electrochemical cell; a mount capable of attaching a plurality of the stackable printed circuit boards to the base printed circuit board; and the potentiostat can be modularly configured for controlling a selected plurality of channels each applying one of the voltages and receiving a response from one or more of a selected number of the two or more electrodes.
The central inventive concept is modular potentiostat control using a base printed circuit board with control electronics and one or more stackable potentiostat modules that apply selectable voltages to selected electrode channels and receive corresponding responses.
Stated Advantages
Scalable modular multi-channel control from 8 to 64 channels.
Remote control and data logging via an API with CSV logging.
Validated measurement performance including cyclic voltammetry compared to a commercial Autolab system.
Correlates amperometric data with fluorescence in a bioelectronic ion pump with closed-loop pH control using fluorescent imaging feedback.
Documented Applications
Cyclic voltammetry validation compared with a commercial Autolab system (Autolab PGSTAT128N).
Amperometry/fluorescence correlation in a multi-electrode bioelectronic ion pump, with closed-loop control of pH using fluorescent imaging feedback and an imaging system.
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