Two approaches to construction of vibrating probes for electrical current measurement in solution

TLDR

The paper describes two systems that use the vibrating probe method to record voltage fields in electrolyte solutions. The first system is a simple, inexpensive one‑dimensional probe driven by a single piezoelectric bimorph, while the second is a more complex, computer‑controlled two‑dimensional probe using a π‑shaped linkage of three bimorphs and motor micrometers with optical encoders. The vibrating probe method achieves a spatial resolution of 5–40 μm and exhibits very low drift.

Abstract

Two systems are described that implement the vibrating probe method for recording the voltage field in electrolyte solutions. The method has a spatial resolution of 5–40 μm and very low drift. The first system is a simple device that allows inexpensive but reliable use of the method to record the field in one dimension. It is based on a metal electrode vibrating along a line, with power supplied by a single piezoelectric bimorph. The second is a more complex system, with computer support, that measures the field in two dimensions, acquires the data to the computer disk, and plots the field measurement on a video image of the experimental preparation. A π-shaped linkage of three bimorphs is used to move the metal electrode in two dimensions. Motor micrometers with optical encoders are used to move the electrode and monitor its position.