CheapStat: an open-source, "do-it-yourself" potentiostat for analytical and educational applications

Although potentiostats are the foundation of modern electrochemical research, they have seen relatively little application in resource poor settings, such as undergraduate laboratory courses and the developing world. One reason for the low penetration of potentiostats is their cost, as even the leas...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:	PloS one Vol. 6; no. 9; p. e23783
Main Authors:	Rowe, Aaron A, Bonham, Andrew J, White, Ryan J, Zimmer, Michael P, Yadgar, Ramsin J, Hobza, Tony M, Honea, Jim W, Ben-Yaacov, Ilan, Plaxco, Kevin W
Format:	Journal Article
Language:	English
Published:	United States Public Library of Science 13-09-2011 Public Library of Science (PLoS)
Subjects:	Aluminum Analytical chemistry Anodic stripping Assembling Biochemistry Biosensing Techniques - economics Cellulose Chemistry Chemistry Techniques, Analytical - economics Chemistry Techniques, Analytical - instrumentation Computer engineering Deoxyribonucleic acid Developing countries Developing Countries - economics DNA DNA - analysis DNA - genetics Education Education - economics Electrical Equipment and Supplies - economics Electrochemical reactions Electrochemistry Electrochemistry - economics Electrochemistry - instrumentation Environmental monitoring Environmental testing Experiments Food quality Freeware Fruit juices Hardware Laboratories Laboratories - economics Lists Open source software Polymerase Chain Reaction Potentiostats Printed circuit boards Quality control Science Policy Social and Behavioral Sciences Source code Universities - economics Voltammetry Waveforms United States > US Santa Barbara California California
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Summary:	Although potentiostats are the foundation of modern electrochemical research, they have seen relatively little application in resource poor settings, such as undergraduate laboratory courses and the developing world. One reason for the low penetration of potentiostats is their cost, as even the least expensive commercially available laboratory potentiostats sell for more than one thousand dollars. An inexpensive electrochemical workstation could thus prove useful in educational labs, and increase access to electrochemistry-based analytical techniques for food, drug and environmental monitoring. With these motivations in mind, we describe here the CheapStat, an inexpensive (<$80), open-source (software and hardware), hand-held potentiostat that can be constructed by anyone who is proficient at assembling circuits. This device supports a number of potential waveforms necessary to perform cyclic, square wave, linear sweep and anodic stripping voltammetry. As we demonstrate, it is suitable for a wide range of applications ranging from food- and drug-quality testing to environmental monitoring, rapid DNA detection, and educational exercises. The device's schematics, parts lists, circuit board layout files, sample experiments, and detailed assembly instructions are available in the supporting information and are released under an open hardware license.
Bibliography:	Conceived and designed the experiments: AAR AJB. Performed the experiments: AAR AJB. Analyzed the data: AAR AJB. Contributed reagents/materials/analysis tools: MPZ. Wrote the paper: AAR AJB KWP. Contributed to the design of the instrument: RJW RJY TMH JMH IB-Y. Conducted troubleshooting with the prototype: RJW RJY TMH JMH IB-Y.
ISSN:	1932-6203 1932-6203
DOI:	10.1371/journal.pone.0023783