PROJECT BG05M2OP001-1.001-0008 | NATIONAL CENTER OF MECHATRONICS AND CLEAN TECHNOLOGIES

Managers:

Assoc. Prof. Dr. Jenia Georgieva (Institute of Physical Chemistry – BAS)

e-mail: jenia@ipc.bas.bg

tel. +359 (2) 979 3938

Assoc. Prof. Plamen Nikolov, PhD (Institute of Electrochemistry and Еnergy Systems – BAS)

e-mail: p_nikolov@iees.bas.bg

тел: +350 (2) 979 27 12

Assist. Prof. Dr. Mariya Kalapsazova (Institute of General and Inorganic Chemistry – BAS)

e-mail: maria_l_k@svr.igic.bas.bg, maria.kalapsazova@gmail.com

тел: +359 (2) 979 3904

The laboratory is a joint scientific structure which includes researchers from the Institute of Physical Chemistry, the Institute of Electrochemistry and Energy Systems and the Institute of General and Inorganic Chemistry at the Bulgarian Academy of Sciences. The laboratory staff performs fundamental and applied research studies using current state-of-the-art methods for chemical and electrochemical synthesis, electrochemical testing and characterization of materials for energy storage applications and electrocatalysis and photoelectrocatalysis. His activity is also focused on physicochemical tests of materials for electrochemical energy storage / conversion systems, mainly for lithium-ion batteries, post-lithium-ion batteries and supercapacitors. Potential partners and clients of the laboratory can be research teams in the country and abroad with similar scientific interests, as well as companies with applied activity in the field.

ACTIVITIES

  • Investigation of chemically and electrochemically deposited metal particles on different types of printed electrodes in order to obtain materials with high catalytic activity, suitable for electrochemical sensor materials.
  • Electrochemical study of the properties of electrodes, coated with modified nanomaterials for electro- and photoelectrocatalytic aims.
  • Studies on the absorption behavior in the ultraviolet and visible regions of electrodes with conductive polymers coatings before and after electrocatalytic tests.
  • Spectroelectrochemical studies of solutions used for electrocatalytic purposes.
  • Study of volt-ampere characteristics of electrodes of various architectures and configurations by applying a wide range of electrochemical techniques and methods;
  • Electrochemical evaluation of novel electrode materials, electrochemical power sources and energy storage systems obtained in research or industrial laboratories;
  • Optimization of the electrical and electrochemical characteristics of commercially available products;
  • Qualitative and quantitative evaluation of the correlations between chemical composition and microstructure of electrode materials and their electrochemical activity;
  • Ex-situ and in-situ studies of the mechanisms of the electrochemical reactions and of the involved elementary processes, as well as of the obtained intermediate products ;
  • Development of new standard-setting methods for characterization of the electrical and electrochemical properties of electrode materials, electrochemical power sources and energy storage systems;
  • Long- and short-term testing of electrode materials, electrochemical power sources and energy storage systems employing international standards and algorithms;
  • External quality audits in electrochemical and battery industry (electrochemical characterization of raw materials, intermediate and end products);
  • Electrochemical studies in potentiostatic and galvanostatic mode: determination of specific capacity, cycling stability and rate capability;
  • Electrochemical impedance measurements;
  • Study on the formation of a solid electrolyte interface (SEI) on the electrode-electrolyte boundary in a view to examine the kinetic processes of charge carriers transfer;
  • Clarification of the mechanism and processes that determine the reversible storage of charge carriers and their efficient transport.
  • Development, improvement and optimization of battery components: positive and negative electrode materials and electrolytic solutions (aqueous and non-aqueous).

SERVICES

  • Spectroelectrochemical investigations of electroactive electrode coatings.
  • Spectroelectrochemical studies of solutions.
  • Measuring of electrochemical properties and cycling endurance of cathode and anode electrode materials applied in batteries, supercapacitors, fuel cells and electrolyzes.
  • Evaluation of the electrochemical activity of photo-sensitive materials and study of t photo-induced electrocatalytic properties of materials;
  • Electrochemical characterization of the interface electrode/electrolyte using quartz crystals microbalance;
  • Study of the course of electrochemical reactions and of the changes in initial, intermediate and final products employing rotating ring-disk and disk electrodes;
  • Assembling of model two-and three electrode cells for electrochemical tests of positive and/or negative electrode materials in presence of aqueous and non-aqueous electrolytes;
  • Mountaining of model two- and three-electrode cells in a dry box with an argon atmosphere with controlled levels of moisture and oxygen;
  • Preparation of non-aqueous electrolytes based on organic solvents;
  • Microscopic observation of the changes on the electrode surface with options to obtain an image.
  • Preparation of moisture-sensitive samples for further ex-situ analyses.
  • Measurement of basic electrochemical parameters and characteristics such as cyclovoltamograms, volt-ampere characteristics, impedance spectra, pulse measurements, etc., both in potentiostatic and galvanostatic mode.

EQUIPMENT

                   Spectroelectrochemical equipment 

Printed electrodes

Teflon cell working with printed electrodes

SPECTROELECTROCHEMICAL EQUIPMENT

Possibility for synchronous measurement of electrical signals (current or potential) and spectrometry in the visible and ultraviolet regions.

 

  • Potentiostat/galvanostat (Autolab) for setting/measuring electrical signals with total electrical power of 1 kW;
  • Light source in the visible and ultraviolet range (200 -1100 nm);
  • Spectrometer;
  • Optical fibers;
  • Quartz cuvette / electrochemical cell for transmitted light;
  • Teflon cells for transmitted and reflected light working with printed electrodes (working electrodes of: carbon, gold, silver, ITO, PEDOT, SWCNT.

Potentiostat/galvanostat for sample preparation with conventional electrochemical cell

CONVENTIONAL ELECTROCHEMISTRY

  • Potentiostat/galvanostat (Autolab) for sample preparation with a total electrical power of 1 kW, equipped with a bipotentiostat, analog potential expansion, filter and analog integrator;
  • conventional electrochemical cell.

Photoelectrochemical station 

Potentiostat/galvanostat system with frequency response analyzer equipped with quartz crystal micro balance

PHOTOELECTROCHEMICAL STATION

  • Potentiostats Gamry Interface 5000 E and Interface 1000 E with interlock operation;
  • High resolution and accuracy of the applied current ±5 А and potential ±11 V;
  • Electrochemical impedance spectroscopy with frequency of up to 2 MHz and signal amplitude of up to 3 V or 5 А;
  • Photoelectrochemical measurements station (bench) with optically shielded cage, white and UV light sources (with frequency up to 1 MHz) and photo diode.

POTENTIOSTAT/GALVANOSTAT SYSTEM WITH FREQUENCY RESPONSE ANALYZER EQUIPPED WITH QUARTZ CRYSTAL MICRO BALANCE

  • Gamry Reference 3000 АЕ Potentiostat with Reference 30к booster capable to work with 2, 3 and 4 terminal electrochemical cells or small footprint batteries;
  • High resolution and accuracy of the applied current ±3 А and potential ±32 V, with 8 additional channels for voltage measurements. Current boosting up to 30A and voltage from -2V to 20V;
  • Electrochemical impedance spectroscopy with frequency up to 1 MHz and signal amplitude of up to 3 V or 5 А;
  • Gamry eQCM 10M quartz crystal microbalance with resonator frequency up to 1 MHz and capability to measure weight changes with resolution of 1 ng cm-2 during various electrode electrochemical polarization regimes;
  • Electrochemical test cell with thermostat jacket fitting the quartz crystal resonator.

Bipotentiostat with rotating disk and rotaing ring-disk electrode

BIPOTENTIOSTAT WITH ROTATING DISK AND ROTAING RING-DISK ELECTRODE

  • Gamry Reference 600+ bipotentiostat for concurrent studies with two working electrodes capable to connect test cells with 2, 3, 4 or 5 terminals;
  • High resolution and accuracy of the applied current ±0.6 А and potential ±11 V and time base below to 5 µs;
  • Electrochemical impedance spectroscopy with frequency up to 5 MHz and signal amplitude of up to 3 V or 0.6 А;
  • Electrode rotator featuring the ability to use rotating ring-disk and disk electrodes with adjustable rotating rate up to 10 000 rmp and accompanying tools and accessories.

GLOVE BOX MBRAUN, MB-UNILAB PRO SP (1500/780),

H2O and O2 content < 0.1 ppm.

The equipment enables manipulation and preparation for analysis of moisture-sensitive samples in an argon atmosphere and with controlled levels of moisture and oxygen.

Additional equipment to the dry box is Zeiss Stemi 508 microscope. The microscope gives the opportunity for an instant observation of the condition of the samples, as well as obtaining three-dimensional image.

Multichannel potentiostat/galvanostat combined with EIS: Biologic VMP-3e

 

MULTICHANNEL POTENTIOSTAT/GALVANOSTAT COMBINED WITH

EIS: Biologic VMP-3e

    • 32 independent channels for potentiostatic / galvanostatic measurements with voltage variation range from -20 V to +20 V and current variation range from 20 nA to 1 A.
    • Possibility to perform electrochemical impedance spectroscopic studies in the frequency range from 10 μHz to 1 MHz.

NEWS