MINIATURE REFERENCE ELECTRODE

• US 20130105308A1
• Filed: 07/12/2011
• Published: 05/02/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 07/16/2010
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Commissariat a L'Energie Atomique (French Alternative Energies and Atomic Energy Commission)
• Original Assignee: Commissariat a L'Energie Atomique (French Alternative Energies and Atomic Energy Commission)
• Inventors: Kirchev, Angel Zhivkov, Diem, Bernard, Mattera, Florence
• Application Number:
  US13/809,831
• Publication Number:
  US 20130105308A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 204/282
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 27/301 Reference electrodes

Abstract

A reference electrode includes a reference electrolyte and a proton exchange membrane arranged to separate the reference electrolyte from a medium external to the electrode. The proton-exchange membrane comprises acid-doped polyaniline. The acid-doped polyaniline is in the form of particles distributed in a bonding polymer material.

Claims

1. A reference electrode comprising:

a reference electrolyte, and

a proton exchange membrane arranged to separate the reference electrolyte from a medium external to the electrode,

wherein the proton exchange membrane comprises acid-doped polyaniline particles distributed in a bonding polymer material.

2. The reference electrode according to claim 1, wherein the ratio of the polyaniline mass to the mass of bonding polymer material is comprised between 1 and 2.

3. The reference electrode according to claim 1, wherein the polyaniline is doped with an ion identical to one of the ions of the reference electrolyte.

4. A method for forming a reference electrode comprising the steps of:

forming a mixture of an acid-doped polyaniline based powder and of a liquid polymerizable material,

depositing a layer of the mixture on a reference electrolyte layer, and

polymerizing the mixture.

5. The method according to claim 4, comprising, before forming the mixture, the steps of:

electrochemically synthesizing acid-doped polyaniline,

grinding the acid-doped polyaniline to form a powder.

6. The method according to claim 5, wherein the electrochemical synthesis of acid-doped polyaniline is performed by means of a precursor containing an ion identical to one of the ions of the reference electrolyte.

7. The method according to claim 5, wherein the electrochemical synthesis of acid-doped polyaniline is performed by means of an electrolyte identical to the reference electrolyte.

8. The method according to claim 4, wherein the polymerizable material is a phenol-furfural based pre-polymer, a phenol-formaldehyde based pre-polymer, a methyl methacrylate based pre-polymer, or an acid-hardened epoxy resin based pre-polymer.