Introduction to Thales software

To start the Thales software, turn on the potentiostat and then double-click on the  icon on the desktop of laptop. The USB LED on the front panel of the potentiostat will turn from green to orange, indicating a successful establishment of communication between the laptop/computer and the potentiostat.

The ThalesXT window will show the start-up screen:

After loading the software, the screen will change to the default Thales mode (selected after the installation of the Thales software).
 

Classic mode

Thales-XT mode

3.1 ThalesXT mode

In the ThalesXT main menu, the user can

1. Create, delete and edit Thales-Projects.
2. Select desired application field.
3. Select preferred techniques.
4. Select the experimental method.
5. Set the parameters for the selected method.
6. Start a measurement with the selected method.
7. Switch to Classic Mode.
8. View the last result.
9. Switch to Zahner Analysis software.

    

Projects

In Thales-Projects the user can handle his/her favorite methods and settings. The user is free to dedicate a Thales-Project to a person, to an application, to system-setup, a date, or do anything else. In a Thales-Project, a method with all its settings is saved.

Applications & Techniques

For selecting a method, ThalesXT provides two filters.

Applications filters all methods which normally are used in a certain application. If the user, for example, set the Applications filter to “Batteries”, under Methods only methods are listed which are relevant for battery research.

Techniques allow the user to select a category of methods such as AC-techniques, static DC-techniques, and dynamic DC-techniques.

Methods

From this menu, the preferred measurement method can be selected. If the user sets the “Application” filter to “All Applications” and the “Techniques” filter to “All Techniques” then all available methods will be shown in the “Methods” list.

Parameter List

On the right side of the selection area, the parameters of the selected method are listed for editing. The inputs can be provided either by entering a numerical value or by selecting one item from a pull-down list. When entering numerical values, all standard formats are allowed. If the user e.g. wants to enter a value of 0.01 then the user can enter 0.01 or enter 10m (10 milli) or 1e-2. When ENTER is pressed or the cursor is set to another parameter then the entered parameter is checked for consistency with the hardware and with related parameters. If the check is passed then the value is displayed in blue color. If an erroneous value is entered then the closest valid value is set instead.

Start

Clicking on the button “Start” starts the measurement of the selected method using the previously defined parameters. The dedicated acquisition windows will open where the user can watch the measurement progress. The example shows the EIS online windows.

Classic Mode

Not all methods and parameters can be accessed by the ThalesXT user-interface hence for advanced measurements Classic mode is needed. Classic mode gives access to more methods and in some cases more details. The user can access the Classic Mode by clicking on this button.

Last result

The user can look at the previous result by clicking on this button.

Analysis

The “Analysis” button starts the Zahner Analysis software.

In classic mode you will get the following main menu:

The following table provides an overview of the methods available in the Thales Classic mode. By hovering the mouse cursor on some icons in Thales software a sub-menu appears. Clicking on an icon will bring you to the parameter window of that experimental method.

Main icon	Sub-menu icon	Program section
		Electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) Series EIS Measurements Intelligent multi-sine EIS     Potentiostat, galvanostatic and pseudo-galvanostatic EIS measurements.
		Current/Voltage Curves Steady-state measurements Fixed sampling Dynamic measurement
		Cyclic Voltammetry
		Polarization measurements Chronoamperometry Chronopotentiometry Linear sweep voltammetry Open circuit voltage measurement
		Multi-Cell Current/Voltage Curves
		Capacity/Voltage Measurements   (Mott-Schottky measurements: for series/parallel RC circuit)
		Capacity/Voltage Analysis
		Measurement of Electrochemical Noise (only with Noise-probe)
		Analysis of Electrochemical Noise
		Time Domain Measurements   Voltage/current measurement vs time
		High-Current-Interrupt-Measurements (only with HCI option)   HCI: High current interrupt measurement
		Fast Time Domain Measurements (only with TR8M or HCI option)   TR8M: Add-on card for transient measurements
		Setup of Additional Measurement Channels (channels of add-on cards)   and other hardware extensions (Eurotherm)
		Online-Display of Additional Measurement Channels
		Frequency Response Analysis
		Polarography Methods Tastopolarography Differential pulse polarography Differential pulse voltammetry Stripping voltammetry Square wave voltammetry Looped square wave voltammetry Constant potential pulse voltammetry
		Simulation & Fitting Software   (Old Analysis software – Replaced by Zahner Analysis)
		Import of Data Measured by Third-Party Hardware
		Script Sequencer
		Execution of Special Software Battery cycling software Diagnostics and troubleshooting Sequencer software Remote software PITT/GITT and Ring-disc measurement etc.