Electrode for electroanalytic studies

• US 3,882,011 A
• Filed: 12/26/1973
• Issued: 05/06/1975
• Est. Priority Date: 12/26/1973
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Dennis C. Johnson, Theodore G. Hines
• Original Assignee: Dennis C. Johnson, Theodore G. Hines
• Inventors: Hines, Theodore G., Johnson, Dennis C.
• Primary Examiner(s): Kaplan, G. L.
• Application Number:
  US05/427,471
• Time in Patent Office: 496 Days
• Field of Search: 204/280,195R,1T
• US Class Current: 204/409
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 27/30 Electrodes, e.g. test electrodes; Half-cells G01N27/414 takes precedence

Abstract

An electrode construction for electroanalysis of fluids comprises a first contact and a second contact closely spaced therefrom, and conductive members electrically engaging the first and second contacts respectively for establishing conductive paths thereto. Arrangements are provided for electrically isolating the first and second contacts from one another and the conductive members from one another, and for sealing the contacts and the conductive members against the entry of fluid so that fluid is prevented from contacting the conductive members and any non-contact surfaces of the first and second contacts. In a modification of the invention the first contact is fabricated from one of the group consisting of glassy carbon and the second contact is made from platinum, gold silver, palladium, other noble metals and glassy-carbon. In another modification of the invention, particularly wherein the electrode is arranged for rotation during the electroanalysis, desirably both of the contacts are made from glassy-carbon. In another modification, the contacts are made from glassy-carbon and platinum respectively.

Claims

1. A ROTATABLE ELECTRODE CONSTRUCTION FOR ELECTROANALYSIS OF A FLUID, SAID CONSTRUCTION COMPRISING A FIRST CONTACT AND A SECOND CONTACT SPACED THEREFROM, CONDUCTIVE MEMBERS ELECTRICALLY ENGAGING SAID FIRST AND SAID SECOND CONTACTS RESPECTIVELY FOR ESTABLISHING CONDUCTIVE MEMBERS FROM ONE ANOTHER, ELECTRICALLY ISOLATING SAID FIRST AND SAID SECOND CONTACTS FROM ONE ANOTHER AND SAID CONDUCTIVE MEMBERS FROM ONE ANOTHER, BRUSH MEMBERS MOUNTED RESPECTIVELY ON SAID CONDUCTIVE MEMBERS AND SPACED FROM SAID CONTACTS, AND MEANS FOR SEALING SAID CONTACTS AND SAID CONDUCTIVE MEMBERS AGAINST THE ENTRY OF SAID FLUID SO THAT SAID FLUID IS PREVENTED FROM CONTACTING SAID CONDUCTIVE MEMBERS AND NON-CONTACT SURFACES OF SAID FIRST AND SAID SECOND CONTACTS, AT LEAST ONE OF SAID CONTACTS BEING FABRICATED FROM GLASSY-CARBON.

2. The combination according to claim 1 wherein said first contact is a disc-shaped member, and said second contact is a ring-shaped member surrounding said disc member.

3. The combination according to claim 2 wherein both of said contacts are fabricated from glassy-carbon.

4. The combination according to claim 2 wherein said disc-shaped contact and said ring-shaped contact are mounted flushly in a face surface of said electrode construction.

5. The combination according to claim 2 wherein the conductive member of said first contact is an elongated rod extending along the length of said electrode construction, said brush members are mounted concentrically of said rod, and said rod protrudes outwardly and coaxially of said brush members from a side thereof remote from said contacts.

6. The combination according to claim 2 wherein said conductive members are a rod and tube extending from said first and said second contacts respectively, and non-conductive sheath members are closely fitted between said rod and said tube and around said tube respectively in sealing and electrically isolating relationship.

7. The combination according to claim 1 wherein said first contact is fabricated from glassy-carbon and Said second contact is fabricated from one of the group consisting of platinum, gold, silver, palladium, other noble metals, and glassy-carbon.

8. The combination according to claim 1 wherein said first and said second contacts are mounted flushly in a face surface of said electrode construction.

9. The combination according to claim 1 wherein said brush members are cylindrical and are spaced in tandem along the length of said electrode construction.

10. The combination according to claim 1 including means for rotating said electrode construction.

11. A rotatable electrode construction for electroanalysis of a fluid, said construction comprising a first contact and a second contact spaced therefrom, conductive members electrically engaging said first and said second contacts respectively for establishing conductive paths thereto, means for electrically isolating said first and said second contacts from one another and said conductive members from one another, and means for sealing said contacts and said conductive members against the entry of said fluid so that said fluid is prevented from contacting said conductive members and non-contact surfaces of said first and said second contacts, at least one of said contacts being fabricated from glassy-carbon, said first contact being a disc-shaped member, said second contact being a ring-shaped member surrounding said disc member, said disc member being fabricated from glassy-carbon, and said ring member being fabricated from platinum.

12. A rotatable electrode construction for electroanalysis of a given fluid, said construction comprising a central conductive support terminating in a first contact member, a conductive tube spacedly surrounding at least a portion of the length of said support and terminating in a second contact member disposed adjacent said first contact member but spaced therefrom, a pair of brush members spacedly mounted on said structure and electrically engaging said support and said tube respectively, an electrically isolating sheath member disposed between said tube and its brush and contact members on the one hand and said support and its brush and contact members on the other, said sheath member extending into a gap between said brush members and into a gap between said contact members, and means for electrically isolating the outer surfaces of said tube and the adjacent outer surfaces of its contact.

13. The combination according to claim 12 wherein said sheath member has a flange at one end thereof for extension into the gap between said brush members.

14. The combination according to claim 13 wherein said outer sheath member is press-fitted about said conductive tube.

15. The combination according to claim 12 wherein at least said first contact member is fabricated from glassy-carbon.

16. The combination according to claim 12 wherein said isolating means includes an outer sheath member closely fitted about the outer surfaces of said tube and the outer pheripheral surfaces of said second contact member.

17. The combination according to claim 12 wherein said sheath member is pressed-fitted between said support and said conductive tube.

18. The combination according to claim 12 wherein said conductive tube and its brush member are formed integrally.