Recent development in the fields of energy storage and energy conversion has rapidly gained a fascinating momentum. A central aspect is the search for methods to enhance the safety, efficiency and durability of energy storage devices like lithium ion batteries. Particularly, the performance of the different components of such devices, like the electrodes, the electrolyte and the separator, as well as the interplay among them, has to be improved. Thus to characterize the properties of modified and novel materials, there is a need not only for measuring devices but also for measuring setups.

The Microcell HC setup offers different types of measuring cells which are suitable for the electrochemical characterization of liquids, gels, and polymers with a low to high viscosity as well as the characterization of solid samples [1]. Depending on the measuring cell, the measurements can be performed in both a two- and three-electrode setup. During measurements the temperature of the sample can be controlled quickly and precisely. Only a small sample volume (milligram range) is required, which allows for electrochemical analyses of substances that are only available in small amounts and/or extremely expensive.

Already established applications of the setup are the measurement of the conductivity of ionic liquids, polyelectrolytes [2], and polymer electrolytes, electrochemical impedance spectroscopy for the characterization of the interface ionic liquid/electrode [3], and cyclic voltammetry for a large variety of electrochemical systems [4]. Especially cyclic voltammetry experiments, but also measurements utilizing a three-electrode setup, require a reference electrode. For electrochemical measurements on ionic liquids or carbonate based electrolytes, a microreference electrode can be used [5].

Literature:

[1] B. Huber, M. Drüschler, B. Roling, Nachrichten aus der Chemie 2012, 60, 1213- 1214. [2] B. Huber, L. Rossrucker, J. Sundermeyer, B. Roling, Solid State Ionics 2013, 247-248, 15-21. [3] J. Wallauer, M. Drüschler, B. Huber, B. Roling, Z. Naturforsch. 2013, 68b, 1143-1153. [4] J. Schwaben, N. Münster, T. Breuer, M. Klues, K. Harms, G. Witte, U. Koert, Eur. J. Org. Chem. 2013, 2013, 1639-1643. [5] B. Huber, B. Roling, Electrochim. Acta 2011, 56, 6569-6572.