Electrochemical cell, reference electrode and electrochemical method
First Claim
1. A reference electrode for use in determining the activity or concentration of an ionic species in a sample, in combination with a working electrode having a selective membrane responsive, by virtue of a selective component of that membrane, selectively to said ionic species and an internal electrode electrochemically coupled with said membrane, the reference electrode comprising a reference membrane which is of the same composition as the selective membrane save that said selective component is absent.
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Accused Products
Abstract
The concentration of an ionic species (e.g. K+) is determined using an ion sensitive electrode having an appropriate membrane (e.g. valinomycin in plasticised PVC). In place of a conventional reference electrode, the half cell is completed with an electrode having an identical membrane but lacking the constituent producing the ion-selective response (e.g. plasticised PVC). The working and reference electrodes can then be made in substantially the same manner to null of interferents. The difficulties associated with double junctions are avoided.
11 Citations
12 Claims
- 1. A reference electrode for use in determining the activity or concentration of an ionic species in a sample, in combination with a working electrode having a selective membrane responsive, by virtue of a selective component of that membrane, selectively to said ionic species and an internal electrode electrochemically coupled with said membrane, the reference electrode comprising a reference membrane which is of the same composition as the selective membrane save that said selective component is absent.
- 6. An electrochemical cell for use in determining the activity or concentration of an ionic species in a sample contained within the cell, the cell comprising a working electrode having a selective membrane responsive by virtue of a selective component of that membrane, selectively to said ionic species, with an internal electrode electrochemically coupled with said membrane and a reference electrode comprising a reference membrane which is of the same composition as the selective membrane save that said selective component is absent.
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12. A method of electrochemically determining the activity or concentration of an ionic species in a sample comprising the steps of:
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contacting the sample with a working electrode and a reference electrode having identical membranes save only that the membrane of the working electrode but not the membrane of the reference electrode comprises a selective component, and measuring the potential developed between the working electrode and reference electrode.
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Specification