NOVA - the Autolab software

NOVA is the data acquisition and analysis software package for all the Autolab potentiostat/galvanostats. It is designed to answer demands of both experienced electrochemists and newcomers alike. Setting up experiments, acquiring data points and performing data analysis to produce publication-ready graphs, can be done in a few mouse clicks. Both standard techniques and user-defined experiments can be executed, because it is designed as a generic electrochemical interface to be easily adapted to any kind of application. Additionally, the package provides the environment for user application developments (LabView drivers, ready-to-use Virtual Instruments and generic interface to .NET applications).

The following techniques are readily available:

• Voltammetric analysis (Sampled DC, Normal pulse, Differential pulse, Differential normal pulse, Square wave) with possibility to synchronize them with the control of Hg drop electrode
• Cyclic and linear sweep voltammetry (Staircase cyclic and linear sweep, true linear sweep with analog generator, high-speed linear scan cyclic voltammetry)
• Chrono methods (amperometry, potentiometry, coulometry, low speed and high-speed at Δt ≥ 100 ns, recurrent pulsing methods)
• Impedance spectroscopy (potentiostatic and galvanostatic, external transfer function analysis (IMVS, IMPS, EHD, ...), potential scan, current scan, time scan, Mott-Schottky)

Also, an useful set of tools and accessories is included, that allows for:

• manual controls
• iR-compensation
• Rotating disc electrode (RDE) control
• Repeat loops
• Cut-offs
• Open circuit potential (OCP) measurements
• Analog input and output
• Digital DIO (TTL) triggering
• Additional signals (Δfrequency, bipotentiostat, ...)
• Import/export ASCII, GPES, FRA

Flexible procedure editor

NOVA comes with a pre-programmed library of ready procedures for most electrochemical experiments. Alongside these electrochemical methods, an extensive list of low-level commands is provided. These commands can be used to customize existing procedures or as individual building blocks to construct any electrochemical procedure, from the most simple to the most advanced, practically without limits.

Sampling and data aquisition settings can be defined for each measurement, ensuring that the relevant data is always recorded under optimal conditions.

Procedure parameters can be linked providing the means to build dynamic procedures, in which parameters are updated in real time, depending on the measurement progress. Convenient tools like repeat loops, cut-offs and data analysis instructions can be used in the procedure editor, making routine experiments easy.

NOVA can be used to perform any number of experiments sequentially, without interruption. Sampling of data points can be switched on periodically during long measurements. Additionally, NOVA is fully customizable, allowing the user to define the acquisition parameters, the transfer function for any form of impedance, offsets and multipliers for the analog inputs and outputs of the instrument and build new commands.

Up to 16 Autolab instruments can be controlled by a single NOVA package running on single PC computer. These potentiostats can be combined into one or more virtual multichannel instruments, carrying out independent, synchronized or sequential measurements. And, to provide more flexibility, each of these Autolab instruments can be even of different type!

Powerful data presentation

During electrochemical experiments, recorded data points can be displayed in a dedicated interface of the software. Up to 4 plots can be used to display measured data points or results of data analysis. Comparison with previous experiments is possible while experiments are in progress.

The Autolab display window provides a clear overview of the experimetal data and the instrument settings during experiments and can be used to manually control the instrument.

Advanced data analysis

NOVA includes a dedicated data analysis environment, featuring an advanced 2D and 3D graphics engine, a large number of data analysis tools and an electrochemical spreadsheet.

Plotting tools like individual axis scaling, multiple Y-axes, plot additions, zooming and overlays help the user display the relevant information in clear, publication-ready graphs. Each plot can be directly pasted into a paper or a presentation.

Powerful data analysis tools can be combined with a built-in electrochemical spreadsheet to analyze the data, to perform calculation and create new plots without having to export the files to a third-party software.

Analysis progress can be saved to the database at any time. Peak search results, plot settings, calculated data points, additional plots are added to the database its original entries, turning each measurement into a complete workbook that you can share with co-workers.

Autolab Software Development Kit (SDK)

Alongside NOVA, Metrohm Autolab also supplies the Autolab Software Development Kit. The Autolab SDK is designed to control the Autolab instrument from different external applications such as LabVIEW, Visual Basic for Applications (VBA), scripting etc. With the Autolab SDK the external application can be used to execute complete measurement procedures, or to control individual Autolab modules.

The Autolab SDK is compatible with NOVA procedures but can be used as a stand-alone application.

Requirements

NOVA is compatible with all the Autolab instruments with a USB interface and is based on the Microsoft .NET framework. Recommended PC configuration: Processor 2 GHz or higher, 80 GB HDD, 2 GB RAM, USB port, Windows Vista, Windows 7 , 8 or 10.