Chemistry Newsletter 2019 | Page 6

Cyclic Voltammetry Bootcamp This Cyclic Voltammetry Bootcamp was designed to pro- vide students with the opportunity to learn the basics of cyclic voltammetry without taking a formal class. The two-day workshop allowed 17 participants from all dif- ferent backgrounds to gain the practical skills necessary to utilize cyclic voltammetry and other basic electroana- lytical techniques in their own research. During the work- shop, students were introduced to both theoretical and practical aspects of electrochemistry through lectures. gave them the opportunity observe the differences in signal between a large electrode and a very small elec- trode. Ultimately, the goal of the workshop was to equip students from several different backgrounds with the tools necessary to design electroanalytical experiments, carry out experiments, troubleshoot common problems, and analyze the data that was generated. With eight electrochemical workstations lent by Pine Re- search Instrumentation, students were given an oppor- tunity to go into the lab and get their hands wet with three different experiments. One lab was devised to force stu- dents to troubleshoot common problems, and another ! This workshop was enabled by support from the Department of Chemistry ‘Say Yes Fund,’ equip- ment and instructional support from Pine Re- search Instrumentation, and the graduate student teaching assistants from the Jeffrey Dick and Jil- lian Dempsey labs who helped develop, test, and supervise the lab activities. 6 | CHEMISTRY AT THE UNIVERSITY OF NORTH CAROLINA | CHEM.UNC.EDU