WO2003007274A1

WO2003007274A1 - Electro-chemical teaching unit

Info

Publication number: WO2003007274A1
Application number: PCT/IB2001/001245
Authority: WO
Inventors: James Hambleton
Original assignee: James Hambleton
Priority date: 2001-07-12
Filing date: 2001-07-12
Publication date: 2003-01-23

Abstract

A main deficiency in education establishments, is the provision of a low cost computer controlled electrochemical analytical workstation, with excellent software, using up to-date help-lines and workbooks. The modern computer can now be purchased at a very reasonable price and usually consists of a tower block case supporting the computer control module, a CD, hard and floppy disc modules. There is also a spare bay position available in the unit to take a spare hard disc drive unit. This can be encased in a holder with a carrying handle so that disc can be removed for security purposes. A miniature Potentiostat/Galvanostat workstation has been designed to fit in this special holder that is then supplied with power from that within the computer. A Faraday screened box fits directly onto the connectors of the unit within which is fitted a small electrochemical cell supporting 0.5 to 5.0 millilitres of solution. A miniature electrode holder is also included to measure samples down to 100 microlitres. This reasonably priced product allows a complete range of tests to be carried out, thereby educating the student in an up to-date professional way, at minimum costs.

Description

PATENT APPLICATION

1. Title

Electro-chemical Teaching Unit.

2. Field of Invention

This invention relates to the teaching of electro-chemistry, through information technology, using a standard personal computer, an Integrated Electro-chemical Technology unit, a Faraday Screen and dedicated software.

According to the invention there is provided a teaching aid for the teaching of electrochemical theory and research techniques comprising of an Integrated Electro-chemical Technology unit, a Faraday Screen and dedicated software.

3. Background - Discussion of Prior Art

There is a requirement to train engineers and scientists in the most up to-date experimental analysis techniques in the subject of electro-chemistry, but the teaching of this topic within academic institutions has steadily declined during the past decade.

A major reason for this decline is that many universities have not been prepared to allow students to use the equipment already available in their laboratories. This may be because it covers too wide a performance range for the student's requirements or capabihty, or the equipment is essentially research or work based, but in many cases it is simply too expensive to use for teaching purposes.

Currently a number of different pieces of electro-chemical equipment would be required to teach a broad range of experimental techniques. A single dedicated teaching instrument for this purpose is not available.

4. Objects and Advantages

According to the present invention there is provided an Electro-chemical Teaching Unit, as claimed in Claim 1, which comprises of an Integrated Electro-chemical Technology unit, specially designed to fit into the second floppy disc drive bay of any personal computer, to which a Faraday Screen is attached.

The second floppy disc drive bay is a standard feature of every proprietary personal computer and therefore the Integrated Electro-chemical Technology unit itself is very compact.

The Faraday Screen incorporates a 5ml electro-chemical cell and a holder for a miniature 3-element electrode, as shown in Figure 3, to provide the complete test equipment required by students.

The Integrated Electro-chemical Technology unit is controlled and monitored using a special software package loaded onto the standard personal computer to provide a system to teach basic electro-chemical analysis techniques.

Substantial cost savings are achieved with this integrated design because it uses the power supplies and other facilities in a standard personal computer. This is also a cheaper alternative to a range of separate electro-chemical instruments or a single purpose built instrument with a separate power supply. The system software is designed to cover all major experimental electro-chemical analysis techniques including parameter set-up procedures and the graphical and numerical presentation of data. Parameter set-up procedures have been designed for a sequential format, but may be of other formats also, which can be determined by the student prior to the commencement of the experiment. This has the advantage over standard equipment in that an automated process overcomes the need to interrupt an experiment to redefine parameters once it has begun. Savings in teaching time result from providing a quicker and simpler method of undertaking electro-chemical testing techniques.

The software system is also designed to go automatically into the Microsoft Excel (RTM) Spreadsheet Programme or Microcal Origin (RTM) for further analysis of the data produced, if so required.

5. Description of Drawings

Figure 1 shows a section through the standard personal computer base unit with the Electro-chemical Teaching System, consisting of an Integrated Electro-chemical Technology Unit and a Faraday Screen, in situ.

Figure 2 shows a section through the Integrated Electro-chemical Technology unit.

Figure 3 shows a front view of the inside of the Faraday screen, with the front cover removed.

6. Description of Invention

Figure 1 shows the Integrated Electro-chemical Technology unit, 1, mounted into the spare drive bay of a standard personal computer base unit, 2 with the Faraday Screen, 3, attached to the front of the Integrated Electro-chemical Technology unit, 1.

Figure 2 shows the locking handle / release mechanism (4), which enables the Integrated Electro-chemical Technology unit, 1, to be removed from the standard personal computer base unit Figure 1.2, for security purposes or alternatively for use within a different computer. Power to the Integrated Electro-chemical Technology unit, 1, is supplied from the standard electrical source, 5, within the standard personal computer base unit Figure 1.2. The Integrated Electro-chemical Technology unit, 1, comprises of a Potentiostat/Galvanostat printed circuit board, 6, and a standard RS232 (RTM) printed circuit board, 7. Co-axial cable connectors, 8, couple the Integrated Electro-chemical Technology unit, 1, to the Faraday Screen, Figure 1.3.

Figure 3 shows an electro-chemical cell, 9, fitted into the Faraday Screen, 3. Three co-axial cable connectors, 8 couple the Faraday Screen, 3, to the Integrated Electrochemical Technology unit Figure 1.1. From the co-axial cable connectors, 8, individual crocodile clips, 11, are then attached either to the electro-chemical cell, 9, or the 3-element electrode holder, 10. The choice of connection to either the electrochemical cell, 9, or the 3-element electrode holder, 10, is dependent on the test method employed. The solution of the sample to be tested is placed either in the electro-chemical cell, 9, or is pipetted onto the surface of an electrode, 12, which is inserted into the 3-element electrode holder, 10,. Two purging ports, 13, are incorporated into the Faraday Screen, 3.

The range of electro-chemical testing techniques covered by the system, in terms well known to experts in this field, are the measurement of-

Rest Potential;

Potentiostatic;

Potentiodynamic;

Linear Polarisation;

Cyclic Voltammetry;

Pitting Corrosion Scan;

Stripping Voltammetry;

Normal Pulse;

Staircase Pulse;

Differential Pulse;

Pulse Amperometry;

Galvanostatic;

Galvodynamic;

Coulometry;

Electro-chemical Noise;

A.C. Impedance Transform;

Curve Fitting.

The software is designed in such a way that the student may select any permutation or combination of these testing techniques, from a drop-down menu in the computer software programme, prior to the start of an experiment and this ensures it will not be interrupted.

Claims

1. A teaching aid, as herein defined for teaching electro-chemistry, comprising of a unit adapted to fit into and connect with the second floppy disc drive of a personal computer, wherein the said unit incorporates or is attached to a test sample holder within a Faraday Screen.

2. A teaching aid, as claimed in Claim 1, wherein the said unit incorporating the Faraday Screen has gas-purging ports.

3. A teaching aid, as claimed in Claims 1 and 2, incorporating dedicated software for the setting up of the system and display of the data gathered.

4. A teaching aid, as claimed in any preceding claim, incorporating an electrochemical sample holder.

5. A teaching aid, as claimed in any preceding claim, incorporating an electrode for the reception of a sample onto the surface thereof and an electrode holder device.

6. A teaching aid, as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the power supply for the unit is derived from the said personal computer.

7. A teaching aid substantially as herein defined and as disclosed and illustrated in the accompanying drawings.