Reference electrode implementation with reduced measurement artifacts
AssigneeGM Global Technology Operations LLC
InventorsBob R. Powell, JR., Mark W. Verbrugge, Daniel R. Baker
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
Artifacts from the presence of a reference electrode in a thin-film cell configuration can be minimized or eliminated by providing the surface of a reference electrode with a specified surface resistivity. Theoretical considerations are set forth that show that for a given wire size, there is a theoretical surface resistance (or resistivity) that negates all artifacts from the presence of the reference wire. The theory and the experimental results hold for a electrochemical cell in a thin-film configuration.
Claims19
A thin-film cell comprising
- a working electrode;
- a counter electrode;
- a separator disposed between the electrodes and holding the electrodes in a spaced apart relation;
- an electrolyte in the separator and in fluid contact with the working electrode and the counter electrode;
- a reference electrode disposed in the separator between the counter and working electrodes;
- and
- wherein the reference electrode is a conductive wire having a resistive coating applied to its surface.
A method of constructing an electrochemical cell containing a working electrode and a counter electrode separated by a separator containing an electrolyte, and further comprising a reference electrode in the form of a wire disposed between the working and the counter electrode, the cell essentially free of impedance artifacts attributable to the presence of the reference electrode, the method comprising applying a resistive coating having a first thickness to the surface of the reference electrode, installing the electrode in the cell in the space between the working and the counter electrodes.
A thin-film electrochemical cell comprising
- a working electrode;
- a counter electrode;
- a separator disposed between the electrodes and holding the electrodes in a spaced apart relation;
- an electrolyte in the separator and in fluid contact with the working electrode and the counter electrode;
- and
- a reference electrode disposed in the separator between the counter and working electrodes;
- wherein the cell exhibits essentially no impedance artifacts attributable to the presence of the reference electrode.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.