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Design and practice of a Python-based teaching approach for electrochemical testing

Bingqian Zhai, Jianshan Ye   

  1. Key Laboratory of Fuel Cell Technology of Guangdong Province, School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, South China University of Technology, Guangzhou 510641, Guangdong Province, China
  • Received:2026-03-10 Accepted:2026-05-07
  • Contact: Jianshan Ye E-mail:jsye@scut.edu.cn

Abstract: Electrochemical experiments constitute a fundamental component of undergraduate chemistry curricula. In conventional pedagogical approaches, students typically conduct tests by configuring parameters on commercial electrochemical workstations, while the underlying control algorithms remain embedded within the instrument software and remain opaque during experimental procedures. To enhance students' comprehension of electrochemical testing methodologies, this study proposes an innovative teaching framework utilizing Python programming and open-source hardware. The methodology incorporates three key elements: graphical interface operation, program structure analysis, and testing method adaptation, enabling students to comprehend potential control mechanisms and signal acquisition processes while performing fundamental experiments. The developed instructional platform accommodates prevalent electrochemical techniques including cyclic voltammetry, chronoamperometry, and galvanostatic charge-discharge measurements. Through mastering the core programming architecture, students can modify excitation signal functions to facilitate transitions between different electrochemical methods, thereby evolving from passive parameter users to active method developers. Pedagogical implementation demonstrates that this approach effectively promotes students' understanding of interconnections among diverse electrochemical techniques while cultivating computational thinking and interdisciplinary analytical competencies, thereby establishing a replicable paradigm for digitalized electrochemistry education.

Key words: Python, Electrochemical testing, Course design, Interdisciplinary approach