Cypress Systems CS-1200 computer-controlled potentiostat

Our Cypress Systems computer-controlled CS-1200 is a high-sensitivity (<100 pA) and high-scan-rate (up to 250 V/s) potentiostat that uses a National Instruments AD/DA interface, offering the utmost in reliability and versatility. The CS-1200 comes complete with custom software, based on a National Instruments platform, which is pre-loaded and supplied with a WIN 2000 or XP computer.

To design and control your own experiments, the CS-1200 has two analog input channels (BNC connectors) for monitoring signals from other sources such as pH or ISE electrodes, temperature probes, etc. There is a TTL-triggered output to start and stop external devices such as stirrers, flow pumps, or recorders. Two additional BNC connectors on the front panel allow analog monitoring of the electrode potential and current with any XY or XYZ recorder or oscilloscope. A DB9F connector on the back panel provides two digital I/O control lines, one external trigger input for turning on the potentiostat, and an opto-electronically isolated output trigger for linking the CS-1200 to high-powered devices.

CS-1200 data-analysis software makes set-up and control easy

Use the waveform settings menus to set up your experiment using the appropriate tab – cyclic voltammetry, chronoamperometry, or the pulse techniques, square wave and differential pulse. Enter voltage limits, scan rate, and number of scans.

Select the applied potential range. if any of the limits in the CV waveform are above 2V, check 4V on "Voltage Range." If you have our optional current booster or preamp device connected, check "PicoAmp Booster."

You can also control when the CS-1200 starts the trigger source. "Internal" will trigger it at the start of the scan, or select "External" to tell the system to wait until it receives the external trigger signal before starting a scan.

For anodic stripping voltammetry and similar experiments, the CS-1200 enables you to hold the initial and final potentials for a controlled length of time. You can also control the status of the two digital I/O lines. For example, in an anodic stripping experiment the initial hold period usually called the deposition step, the solution is typically stirred. With the digital I/O control you can set the stirrer to be on during the initial time period, turn off during the scan or stripping, and on again during the final hold. The final hold can be used to remove the mercury film on a glassy carbon electrode if using a thin mercury film electrode.

Click here to see the easy-to-use data-analysis features