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Chapter 2: Introduction
About this Manual
This manual covers the installation, safety, and use of the Gamry Instruments eQCM 15M Electrochemical
Quartz Crystal Microbalance.
This manual describes use of an eQCM 15M with Revision 7.9 (and later revisions) of the Gamry Framework
software. It is equally useful when setting up a newly purchased instrument or modifying the setup of an older
instrument for use with new software.
Chapter 1 includes an in-depth discussion of safety issues. This chapter describes this manual and gives a brief
overview of the eQCM 15M features. Chapter 3 is a description of the electronic circuitry in the eQCM 15M.
Chapter 4 contains installation instructions. Chapter 5 describes inserting a crystal into a holder and connecting
the holder to the eQCM 15M, and Chapter 6 describes the eQCM 15M's front and rear panels. Specifications
are in Chapter 7.
This manual does not discuss software installation or software operation in any detail.
Software support for the eQCM 15M is described in the Gamry's online Help system and associated
documentation.
About the eQCM 15M
The eQCM 15M is a research-grade electrochemical instrument packaged in a small, easy-to-handle case. It
offers measurement capabilities similar to instruments that are more than ten times its size and weight, and
more than two times its price. The instrument can operate as a stand-alone quartz-crystal microbalance or with
a potentiostat.
eQCM 15M features include:
1–15 MHz operating range with no need to send the unit back to the factory in order to recalibrate for
different frequency crystals
DC-decoupled output for interface with a potentiostat
0.02 Hz resolution
Reporting of both the series and parallel resonance frequencies
An insulated USB connection avoiding ground loops
The eQCM 15M requires a host computer for its use. Unlike some other quartz crystal microbalances, the
instrument connects to the computer through a USB cable. Both powering the eQCM 15M as well as data
transfer are realized using this USB connection.
Notational Conventions
In order to make this manual more readable we have adopted some notational conventions. These are used
throughout this manual and all other Gamry Instruments manuals:
Numbered lists. A numbered list is reserved for step-by-step procedures, with the steps always
performed sequentially.
Bulleted list. The items in a bulleted list, such as this one, are grouped together because they represent
similar items. The order of items in the list is not critical.
File names and folders. Inside paragraphs, references to computer files and Windows
capitalized and placed within quotes, for example: "C:\MYGAMRYDATA\EQCM.DTA" and
"GAMRY.INI".
Introduction
11
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folders are
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