Potentiostats vs Galvanostats: Why we generalize and why it matters
Dmitry Galyamin
Co-founder of Electroseek
“Potentiostat” is often used as a catch-all term for an electrochemical workstation, including instruments that also support galvanostatic control. Many commercial workstations combine both potentiostatic and galvanostatic setpoints, but not every instrument offers both modes.
A potentiostat controls electrode potential (for example: the working electrode potential versus a reference electrode in a 3-electrode cell) and measures current.
A galvanostat controls current and measures the resulting potential.
In either mode, the setpoint can only be maintained if the required cell voltage stays within the instrument’s compliance voltage and current limits.
Potentiostatic mode: impose potential, measure current
In potentiostatic operation, if we use a 3-electrode cell, the instrument drives current through the counter electrode to hold the working electrode at a programmed potential (step, ramp, or waveform) relative to the reference electrode.
This mode is common for chronoamperometry, cyclic voltammetry, and pulse voltammetry methods such as DPV and square-wave voltammetry.
Galvanostatic mode: impose current, measure potential
In galvanostatic operation, the instrument imposes a defined current (constant or pulsed) and records how the potential responds, typically as E vs time.
Galvanostatic control is widely used for battery cycling and other constant-current protocols, including chronopotentiometry, galvanostatic charge-discharge, and GITT (galvanostatic intermittent titration technique).
When selecting a potentiostat
The dual-mode configuration is the market standard. As a result and for simplicity, the term “potentiostat” is often used generically, even when referring to a potentiostat/galvanostat workstation.
For illustration, on ElectroSeek there are currently 69 potentiostat/galvanostat systems listed, compared to only 7 potentiostat without galvanostatic capability.
Be careful, do not assume galvanostatic capability just because a device is called a potentiostat. Some compact or application-focused instruments may support potentiostatic control only.
This is not necessarily a drawback. Having only potentiostatic mode can be sufficient for biosensors and amperometric measurements, but it may become limiting if your work later requires imposed-current protocols, which is often the case in many applications.
If you are unsure about which potentiostat, compliance voltage, current ranges, or which control mode your method requires:
- Write to us directly - we will help you choose specifications you will actually use.
- Explore our catalogue - compare specs and request a quote in one click.
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I am Dmitry Galyamin, PhD in Electrochemistry and co-founder of ElectroSeek. After more than ten years in academic research focused on electrocatalysis, electrochemical biosensors, and corrosion studies, I worked as a scientific consultant helping laboratories and companies solve practical challenges in electrochemistry. These experiences led me to create ElectroSeek, a platform designed to make it faster and easier for scientists to find the right electrochemical equipment and information for their work.