A low-cost and high-precision scanning electrochemical microscope built with open source tools

Abstract A low-cost Scanning Electrochemical Microscope (SECM) was built with a 0.6 pA current measurement capability potentiostat and submicron resolution motorized stage, using open source software and hardware tools. The high performance potentiostat with a Python graphical user interface was built based on an open source project. Stepper motors, Arduino controller, a manual XY micromanipulator stage, 3D printed couplers and gears were used in building the motorized stage. An open source motor control software was used for moving the motorized stage with high precision. An inverted microscope was utilized for viewing a standard microelectrode while scanning. The setup was tested in the formation of a map of electrochemical signals from an array of pores on a parafilm membrane.