25 min read

Impedance compensation – Material Science – Application Note 4

Latest updated: July 22, 2021

Introduction

Impedance spectroscopy is a powerful analytical tool for the characterization of the electrical properties of materials. This characterization needs cables and/or sample holder to interface the Device Under Test (DUT) to the measuring instrument (Impedance analyzer, LCR, potentiostat, etc). The cables and/or the sample holder introduce additional impedances termed as “residual impedances”. These additional impedances impact the measurement accuracy by an overestimation of the measured electrical properties of the DUT and so an overestimation of the relative contribution of individual processes (bulk, grain boundaries, interface, or electrode capacitances/resistances) involved in the electrical response of the DUT.
The residual impedances can be “eliminated” or compensated using a compensation procedure. The aim of this note is to introduce impedance users to the capabilities of compensation for obtaining reliable and accurate measurements. It also explains why the compensation is needed and how to perform it. An example of compensation on a low capacitance capacitor that “mimics” a bulk capacitance is given here to illustrate the effect of compensation on the accuracy and reliability of impedance measurement.

 

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