Microfabricated liquid-junction reference electrode
First Claim
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1. A micromachined free-diffusion liquid-junction reference electrode comprising:
- an internal electrode reservoir configured to contain an electrolyte;
an internal electrode in the internal electrode reservoir configured to contact with the electrolyte when present;
a pinhole configured to provide a fluidic contact to a sample solution; and
at least one high-aspect-ratio channel connecting the internal electrode reservoir and the pinhole,wherein the electrolyte is configured to freely diffuse from the internal electrode reservoir to the pinhole through the high-aspect-ratio channel,wherein the at least one high-aspect-ratio channel has one or more of an inlet part connected to the internal electrode reservoir, an outlet part connected to the pinhole, and a folded geometry in between the inlet part and the outlet part,wherein the reference electrode further comprises at least one electrically conductive strip configured to form a low impedance bypass for the high-aspect-ratio channel, wherein the electrically conductive strip is configured to connect the inlet part of the high-aspect-ratio channel closest to the electrolyte reservoir comprising the internal electrode and the outlet part of the high-aspect ratio channel.
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Abstract
Micromachined reference electrodes for use in miniaturized electrochemical sensors, and methods for fabricating such reference electrodes and electrochemical sensors, for example, as a part of a microfluidic system, are disclosed. Electrochemical measurements allow for inexpensive detection of a wide variety of (bio-)chemical compounds in solution. The reference electrode is one of the main parts of an electrochemical cell. The reference electrode, from which no current is drawn, has a stable, constant potential.
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Citations
20 Claims
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1. A micromachined free-diffusion liquid-junction reference electrode comprising:
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an internal electrode reservoir configured to contain an electrolyte; an internal electrode in the internal electrode reservoir configured to contact with the electrolyte when present; a pinhole configured to provide a fluidic contact to a sample solution; and at least one high-aspect-ratio channel connecting the internal electrode reservoir and the pinhole, wherein the electrolyte is configured to freely diffuse from the internal electrode reservoir to the pinhole through the high-aspect-ratio channel, wherein the at least one high-aspect-ratio channel has one or more of an inlet part connected to the internal electrode reservoir, an outlet part connected to the pinhole, and a folded geometry in between the inlet part and the outlet part, wherein the reference electrode further comprises at least one electrically conductive strip configured to form a low impedance bypass for the high-aspect-ratio channel, wherein the electrically conductive strip is configured to connect the inlet part of the high-aspect-ratio channel closest to the electrolyte reservoir comprising the internal electrode and the outlet part of the high-aspect ratio channel. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 20)
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19. A micromachined free-diffusion liquid-junction reference electrode comprising:
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means for containing an electrolyte; means for contacting with the electrolyte when present; means for providing a fluidic contact to a sample solution; and means for connecting the containing means and the contact providing means, wherein the electrolyte is configured to freely diffuse from the containing means to the contact providing means through the connecting means, wherein the connecting means has one or more of an inlet part connected to the containing means, an outlet part connected to the contact providing means, and a folded geometry in between the inlet part and the outlet part, wherein the reference electrode further comprises at least one electrically conductive strip configured to form a low impedance bypass for the connecting means, wherein the electrically conductive strip is configured to connect the inlet part of the connecting means closest to the containing means and the outlet part of the connecting means.
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Specification