Zahner

Zahner is a German manufacturer specializing in high-precision potentiostats and related scientific instruments for electrochemical and photoelectrochemical applications. The company has been developing and producing these devices since 1976, targeting research and industrial users who require flexible and customizable solutions for experiments involving electrochemistry, coatings and corrosion, spectroelectrochemistry, fuel cells, electrolyzers, and batteries.

A key feature of Zahner potentiostats is their modular design, which allows users to customize instruments with plug-and-play addon cards for additional analog and digital input and output signals. This modularity extends to a range of models, including the IM7x, IM7, and IM7c, each offering different voltage and current ranges, numbers of parallel channels, and frequency capabilities for electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS). For example, the IM7x supports DC voltage ranges of ±5 V and ±15 V, current up to ±4 A across 12 current ranges, EIS frequency from 10 μHz to 12 MHz, and up to 33 parallel channels. All three models are compatible with Windows, Linux, and macOS, and can be controlled via C++ and Python interfaces.

The platform offers advanced features such as the Zweipol-Hilbert transformation (Z-HIT) for improved detection of non-stationarity and mutual inductivity in EIS spectra, overcoming limitations of traditional Kramers-Kronig transformations. Zahner also provides the Custom Experiment Builder within its Zahner Lab software, enabling users to assemble experimental routines using modular building blocks and automate complex electrochemical test protocols. These routines can be converted into Python code with a single click, streamlining integration and automation of experiments.

Remote control and automation are further supported by the zahner_link API, which communicates with IM7 potentiostats via WebSocket connections using JSON objects. The API is built with a C++ core and provides Python bindings for simplified programming. Zahner’s CIMPS system is designed for characterizing photoelectrochemical (PEC) and photovoltaic (PV) systems, offering precise control of light intensity during measurements. Accessories, electronic loads, probes, multiplexer systems, and a variety of software tools complement the hardware offerings, supporting a wide range of electrochemical research and testing needs.