Journal of Electrical Engineering 5 (2017) 27-34 doi: 10.17265/2328-2223/2017.01.004 Development and Implementation of an Impedance Spectrometry Device for Capacitance Analyses Robson Borges Rodrigues, Rogério Valentim Gelamo and Anderson Barbosa Lima Federal University of Triângulo Mineiro-UFTM, Institute of Technological and Exact Sciences-ICTE, Thin Film and Plasma Process Laboratory, Av. Dr Randolfo Borges Junior 1250, CEP 38064-200, Uberaba, MG, Brazil Abstract: The development of new fabrication techniques for capacitors with high storage capabilities, called super capacitors, requires appropriated equipment in order to obtain the device’s electric behaviours. There is several equipment to perform this analysis operating with alternating or continuum voltage. However, the elevated cost of this equipment makes purchasing it impossible in many laboratories. In this work, we present the development and construction of a low-cost impedance spectrometer that allows for the analysis of the capacitor’s electric behaviour without taking too much time. The analysis is performed by alternating voltage and current measurements as a function of the frequency in the range of 0.001 Hz to 100 kHz. The capacitance and electric behaviour of some commercial capacitors are shown in this work, thereby proving the efficiency of the developed equipment. Key words: Impedance spectrometry, capacitance, supercapacitor. 1. Introduction The study and application of capacitors with high capacitance has been growing rapidly, and a lot of work has been applied in this area. The principal applications of these devices, which are also labelled as super capacitors, are focussed on electric vehicles [1], energy storage and battery substitution [2] and other power supplies [3]. Capacitors are categorised as electrostatic, electrolytic and electrochemical [4]. Since the great increase in nanotechnology research, especially in carbon nanostructures as carbon nanotubes and graphene, a large quantity of works have been published in the literature that involve obtaining electrochemical capacitors presenting major capacitance [5-9]. Supercapacitors or ultracapacitors are general names for electrochemical capacitors [4], which are in great part constructed using the carbon nanostructures above cited [10] combined with transition metal oxides [11] or other nanoparticles. In order to develop and construct super capacitors, Corresponding author: Rogério Valentim Gelamo, Dr., Mr., research fields: thin films, plasma process and nanotechnology. electrodes using soft materials as cited above can be introduced in electrochemical cells using regular liquid electrolytes [12, 4] or a structure consisting of gel electrolyte [13]. In general, measuring the capacitance is performed using conventional potentiostats to obtain the charge and discharge curves [14]. However, in many laboratories, it is not possible to acquire this expensive equipment just to characterize prototype capacitors. An alternative way to obtain the capacitance behaviour and values is the impedance spectrometry method. In this technique, a measurement of the capacitive reactance behaviour as a function of frequency is performed, resulting in important circuit information. It is possible to obtain the circuit intrinsic resistance and the capacitance during the analysis, as they are important parameters used to characterize the capacitor. In this way, it is desirable to construct robust, precise and low-cost impedance spectroscopy equipment that is useful for characterising commercial and prototype capacitors. The possibility of obtaining a custom-designed impedance spectrometry presenting D DAVID PUBLISHING