Hydrogel Diaphragm Combination Electrode for Low KCl Leakage
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional combination electrodes suffer from contamination and leakage of KCl through porous diaphragms, leading to erroneous measurements and a limited service life.
Innovation Solution
A combination electrode with a hydrogel diaphragm made of thermoplastic polyurethane block copolymer, which seals the opening upon swelling and minimizes leakage, allowing for error-free measurements over an extended period.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a porous diaphragm is used to allow charge transport, then charge transport is enabled, but the diaphragm surface area increases leading to contamination and limited service life
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the physical-chemical parameters of the diaphragm by using a hydrogel material with controlled porosity (30-70%) and specific pore size distribution. This optimized porosity parameter allows sufficient charge transport while minimizing the surface area available for contamination, thereby resolving the contradiction between charge transport capability and contamination resistance.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs a composite diaphragm structure combining hydrogel material with specific polymer composition (monomer A and monomer B in ratio 1:4 to 1:10). This composite material approach creates a diaphragm that simultaneously provides electrical conductivity for charge transport and structural integrity to prevent contamination, addressing both requirements of the technical contradiction.
2Reliability
If a porous diaphragm is used to allow charge transport, then charge transport is enabled, but KCl leakage increases causing erroneous measurements
Solution Approach 1:
The patent optimizes the porosity parameter of the hydrogel diaphragm to a specific range (30-70%) that allows ionic charge transport while effectively blocking KCl leakage. The controlled pore size and hydrogel matrix structure enable selective ion transport, preventing KCl efflorescence and maintaining stable electrochemical potential, thus resolving the contradiction between charge transport and KCl loss.
3Productivity
If a conventional diaphragm is used, then the electrode can operate, but the service life is limited due to ongoing contamination and KCl outflow
Solution Approach 1:
The patent fundamentally changes the material parameters of the diaphragm from conventional porous materials to hydrogel with optimized porosity (30-70%) and specific polymer composition. This parameter change extends the service life by preventing both contamination and KCl leakage, maintaining measurement accuracy over extended periods without requiring constant moisture maintenance.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent creates a disposable combination electrode with a hydrogel diaphragm that maintains its performance characteristics throughout its extended service life. The hydrogel material's resistance to contamination and KCl leakage allows the electrode to function error-free for extended periods, making the electrode economically viable as a disposable unit with long operational lifespan.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The hydrogel diaphragm reduces contamination and leakage, ensuring accurate measurements over a longer duration without the need for constant moisture maintenance, and is compatible with GMP guidelines.
Implementation Method 1
The hydrogel diaphragm seals the opening between an end of the outer tube and the inner tube when the hydrogel swells upon coming in contact with a first electrically conductive fluid
Implementation Method 2
The diaphragm prevents the intermixing of the KCl solution and the fluid to be measured, but allows for a charge transport between the KCl solution and the fluid to be measured
Implementation Method 3
The glass membrane is coupled to the working electrode in an electrically conductive manner through the second electrically conductive fluid
Data Source
AI summary
A combination electrode includes a working electrode, a reference electrode, a hydrogel diaphragm, an outer tube and an inner tube. The working electrode is disposed in the inner tube. The reference electrode is disposed in a reference chamber formed between the inner tube and the outer tube. The hydrogel diaphragm seals the opening between an end of the outer tube and the inner tube when the hydrogel swells upon coming in contact with a first electrically conductive fluid that is introduced into the reference chamber. The diaphragm is coupled to the reference electrode in an electrically conductive manner through the first electrically conductive fluid, which contacts both the reference electrode and the diaphragm. The inner tube is closed by a glass membrane that is coupled to the working electrode in an electrically conductive manner through a second electrically conductive fluid that contacts both the glass membrane and the working electrode.