Design and Development of a PC-Based Analyte Detector Using Differential Pulse Voltammetry for Sensing Applications

This work presents a PC-based, DPV-exclusive potentiostat, termed the differential pulse analyte detector, optimized for electrochemical sensing. In contrast to conventional low-cost multifunctional potentiostats, the proposed system employs a DPV-specific design, which minimizes hardware overhead, reduces power consumption, and enhances measurement stability. The system is built around an ATmega16A microcontroller and an MCP4725 digital-to-analog converter, employing fully software-generated DPV waveforms without analog RC-based shaping circuits, thereby ensuring precise timing, enhanced waveform integrity, and long-term stability. A counter-electrode excitation strategy is implemented to maintain reference…