Pseudo-Reference Electrode Using Chalcogenide Glass for Unattended ISE Sensors
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current ion-selective electrode (ISE) sensors face challenges in continuous, remote, and unattended water quality monitoring due to the maintenance and storage requirements of conventional reference electrodes, which are impractical for long-term use in harsh environments and remote areas.
Innovation Solution
A pseudo-reference electrode comprising a silver conductor backed by a chalcogenide or halide glass material, which is stable and does not require conditioning or storage electrolytes, allowing for unattended operation and reduced maintenance needs.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If conventional reference electrodes (SCE or Ag|AgCl) are used in ISE sensors, then stable electrochemical potential can be achieved, but the electrodes require maintenance in aqueous solution which makes them impractical for unattended remote use
Solution Approach 1:
The invention extracts the essential function of the reference electrode (providing stable electrochemical potential) while removing the problematic requirement for aqueous solution storage. The glass material is designed to generate and maintain stable potential without needing to be immersed in conditioning electrolyte, thereby separating the functional requirement from the maintenance burden.
Solution Approach 2:
The glass material inherently generates stable electrochemical potential through its own composition (silver conductor backed by chalcogenide or halide glass) without requiring external aqueous solution or periodic maintenance. The material serves itself by maintaining stable potential characteristics intrinsically, eliminating the need for external conditioning electrolyte.
2Productivity
If conventional reference electrodes are deployed for continuous remote monitoring, then water quality parameters can be measured continuously, but storage and maintenance requirements make them difficult to implement in continuous remote applications
Solution Approach 1:
The glass material is designed as a simplified, potentially disposable component that eliminates complex maintenance requirements. By using a solid-state glass material instead of conventional electrodes requiring aqueous storage, the system enables continuous remote deployment without the complexity of maintaining reference electrodes in conditioning electrolyte.
3Measurement precision
If periodic grab sampling is used for water quality monitoring, then comprehensive analysis can be performed, but it is expensive and cannot detect short-term spikes in hazardous chemical species
Solution Approach 1:
The invention enables continuous measurement of water quality parameters by providing a reference electrode that can operate unattended without periodic maintenance. The glass material maintains stable electrochemical potential continuously, allowing real-time detection of chemical species concentrations and immediate response to short-term spikes, eliminating the time loss inherent in periodic sampling.
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 pseudo-reference electrode provides stable electrochemical potential, reduces maintenance needs, and is suitable for continuous, unattended water quality monitoring in remote areas, enhancing the reliability and cost-effectiveness of ISE sensors.
Implementation Method 1
A pseudo-reference electrode comprising a pseudo-reference glass material backed by a silver conductor... wherein the pseudo-reference glass material is: a chalcogenide glass comprising a silver chalcogenide Ag2Ch... or a halide glass comprising a silver halide
Data Source
AI summary
A pseudo-reference electrode comprising a pseudo-reference glass material backed by a silver conductor comprising silver metal, wherein the pseudo-reference glass material is a chalcogenide glass comprising a silver chalcogenide Ag2Ch, wherein Ch denotes a chalcogen, or a halide glass comprising a silver halide and at least one glass-forming oxide of a metal or a metalloid, a mixture of two or more of these glasses, or a composite of at least one of these glasses. This pseudo-reference electrode can be used in ion-selective electrode (ISE) sensors and ion-selective field effect transistors (ISFETs).