Potentiostatic intermittent titration

A milder version of the potentiostatic intermittent titration technique (PITT) consists in modifying the initial potential by small steps, may be 1 mV, recording the current after a constant delay, and waiting until it has decreased to almost zero before modifying again the potential (staircase voltammetry). This version gives more information (activity potential and capacity) about the different redox couples present in the electrodes which are successively electroactive, but needs more sensitive equipment. 

Although electrochemical characterizations have recently been performed on single intercalation particles, in most cases composite powdery electrodes containing a mixture of intercalation particles, electrically conductive additives (e.g., carbon black) and PVDF binder have also been used. In order to obtain consistent results and to reach comprehensible intercalation mechanisms in these electrodes, basic electroanalytical characterizations such as slow-scan rate -> cyclic voltammetry (SSCV), -> potentiostatic intermittent titration (PITT) (or -> galvanostatic intermittent titration, GITT), and -> electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) should be applied in parallel or in a single study. 

Actually, the only report on MnO anode material before our recent publication indicates that MnO powder electrode could be discharged and charged under a very small current density (1/300 C) by a potentiostatic intermittent titration technique (PITT) mode. Pure phase MnO thin film was prepared. It was surprising to find that MnO thin film shows good rate performance and cyclic performance, as shown in Fig. 5.23. Similar performances and polarizations are also observed in the cases of MnO powder materials. ... 

A general view ofthe mechanisms and kinetics of the doping processes (using EIS), and a quantitative evaluation of the chemical diffusion coefficients of electronic and ionic charge carriers with the use of small-amplitude techniques (often called potentiostatic and galvanostatic intermittent titration techniques PITT and GITT, respectively [29]). 

The experiment was made under potentiostatic conditions. This is called potential intermittent titration technique (PITT). 

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