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Precision Nanoamp current measurement

This question is answered
aale2025
Posted by aale2025
on Jan 07 2012 09:08 AM
Intellectual310 points

Hello, I am looking for a high precision amplifier to measure nanoampere currents. I am planning to use MSP430, I wonder which amplifier is convenient for this application. Is there an application note ? Thank you !!!

Nanoamp Currents
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  • Bruce Trump
    Posted by Bruce Trump
    on Jan 07 2012 17:19 PM
    Mastermind20920 points

    aale2025,

    We can be of greater assistance if you could provide some more details. Can you tell us the source of the current you want to measure? Polarity of the current? Bandwidth? Power supplies available? Any type of additional details might help us suggest a suitable circuit and amplifier.

    Regards, Bruce

    Current measurement
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  • aale2025
    Posted by aale2025
    on Mar 21 2012 10:43 AM
    Intellectual310 points

    Hello Bruce,

    Thank you for your response.

    The source of the current is a 3 electrode sensor, onto which a liquid sample drop is positioned. Then, a reactive is added, and after around 320 seconds, current is measured. The current may vary between 0 to 1000 nA. The electrodes must be polarized with -200 mV, for taking the current measurement.

    The power supply will have to be built.

    The idea is to take the current measurement, and display it on an LCD, and also transmit the current-time curve to a PC via USB.

    I am planning to use one of the MSP430 family, for which I have already bought the programmer.

    This job is for the University of San Juan, for the chemical lab. By measuring current, under the previous conditions, students can determine whether the sample has toxins or not, and if so, its level.

    I am attaching a typical graph.

    Thank you !!!

    Regards,

    Alejandro

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  • Hawk Tong
    Posted by Hawk Tong
    on Mar 26 2012 09:07 AM
    Intellectual895 points

    Alejandro,

    Even I cann't see the figure you post, i do believe what you are dewaling with a electrochemical sensor. if it is true, strongly recommend you consider LMP91000.

    it is a highly integration analog front end solution for this kind of application. wish it helps.

    for more information, pls visit below link. http://www.ti.com/product/lmp91000

    reagards

    Hawk Tong

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  • aale2025
    Posted by aale2025
    on Mar 26 2012 09:15 AM
    Intellectual310 points

    Dear Tong,

     

    Thank you for your email. Is there I way I could send you the image ?

    Does the LMP91000 can sense currents in the nanoamp range ? Also can the LMP91000 polarize two of the three electrodes to 200 mV ? I need to implement a potensiostat.

    Thanks again,

     

    Regards,

     

    Alejandro

     

     

     

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  • Hawk Tong
    Posted by Hawk Tong
    on Mar 26 2012 18:51 PM
    Verified Answer
    Verified by aale2025
    Intellectual895 points

    Alejandro,

    LMP91000 is right for this case, the bias voltage is programmable. pls find more information about this in specification Page 11.

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  • aale2025
    Posted by aale2025
    on Apr 04 2012 15:00 PM
    Intellectual310 points

    Dear Hawk Tong,

    Is there an AFE chip like LMP91000 with a high precision ADC built in ?

    I found LMP90100, but it seems not suitable for a 3-electrode quemical sensor.

    Thanks again,

    Alejandro

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  • Hawk Tong
    Posted by Hawk Tong
    on Apr 05 2012 00:25 AM
    Intellectual895 points

    At present, there is such a part, eletrochemical analog front end plus ADC but LMP91000. my suggestion is to consider LMP91000 + MSP430F2013 / MSP430AFE251.

    wish it helps.

    Best regards

    Hawk

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  • aale2025
    Posted by aale2025
    on May 28 2012 17:24 PM
    Intellectual310 points

    Hi !!!

    LMP9100 datasheet claims conversion of current ranges from 5 uA to 750 uA full range… I wonder if it is possible to measure currents within the range 0 – 1000 nA. Thank you !!!

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  • Hawk Tong
    Posted by Hawk Tong
    on May 29 2012 05:18 AM
    Intellectual895 points

    Sir,

    1. per your input, i am checking with my colleague. and will give you a confimation soon.

    2.  i am not sure what is your end application, electrochemical sensor, pH probe, or other similar application.

         may i know backgroup of your case ?

    regards

    Hawk

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  • aale2025
    Posted by aale2025
    on May 29 2012 07:26 AM
    Intellectual310 points

    Dear Tong,

    Thank you for your email.

    The end application is an electrochemical sensor. The objective is to detect the presence of ochratoxin in food samples. An electrochemical sensor is used for that purpose like the one shown in the following picture:

    The sensor is interfaced to a potensiostat for current measurement.

    A liquid sample drop is positioned over the sensor strip, when that happens the current curve drops rapidly. I need to sense that current drop and the ongoing current values until the current reaches stability. That current measure provides the information of ochratoxin presence. If the current drops more then, there’s no toxin in the sample.

    In the next picture, stability is reached around 350 seconds.

    The electrodes must be polarized at -200 mV for the experiment.

    I intend to use a MSP430 microcontroller, a potensiostat (possibly the LMP91000), acquire the current curve, display the current stable value on an LCD display, and send the curve via USB to a PC.

    This is for my electrical engineering thesis, at Universidad Nacional de San Juan, to be used at the biochemical student lab at Universidad Nacional de San Luis.

    Looking at the picture, current range measurement is 0 nA to 1000 nA.

    What do you think ? Is it possible with LMP91000 ?

    Thank you.

    Best regards,

    Alejandro

    LMP91000 electrochemical sensor low current
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  • Hawk Tong
    Posted by Hawk Tong
    on May 30 2012 04:04 AM
    Verified Answer
    Verified by aale2025
    Intellectual895 points

    Alejando,

    i think the answer is YES.  

    why 5uA to 750uA input current is mentioned in the data sheet  ?

    - there is TIA unit in LMP91000, and the gain resistor is progrmmable, in other words the gain depends on the resistance.

    5uA is the max current when the TIA gain resistor is 350Kohm, @min supply voltage.

    750uA is the max current when the TIA gain resistor is 2.75Kohm, @min supply voltage.

    wish it do some help.

    reagards

    Hawk Tong

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  • aale2025
    Posted by aale2025
    on May 30 2012 16:47 PM
    Intellectual310 points

    Dear Tong,

    Thank you again. Indeed your help is appreciated.

    So, if I choose the TIA gain resistor 350Khom, would I be able to measure currents 0-1000 nA ?

    Regarding, the instrument sensitivity, datasheet says for gas applications 0.5 nA/ppm to 9500 nA/ppm, could I expect 0.5 nA sensitivity for my amperometric application ?

    Thanks again,

    Alejandro

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  • aale2025
    Posted by aale2025
    on Jun 13 2012 12:27 PM
    Intellectual310 points

    Dear Domenico,

    Can you explain wow you obtained these values ?

    VDD=3.3V

    VREF= 2.5V

    BIAS 8% VREF, it means 200mV

    BIAS SIGN: negative

    Internal Zero 67% VREF, it means 1.675V

    RTIA=350Kohm

    Thank you !!!

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  • BEN DAOUD Azz��dine
    Posted by BEN DAOUD Azz��dine
    on Feb 19 2013 10:29 AM
    Prodigy10 points

    Dear TI member,

    It's possible to work with a another TIA gain other 350Kohms?

    In my application i need to go 1.2 Mohms, it's possible with no problem for the OPA TIA mesurment?

    Thank you for your response.

    BEN

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