Related Experiment Video
Updated: Apr 28, 2026
07:21
Author Spotlight: Advancing Agricultural Land Ecosystem Research with a Hydraulic Property Analyzer to Assess Soil Health
Published on: August 9, 2024
1.5K
A microtensiometer capable of measuring water potentials below -10 MPa
Vinay Pagay1, Michael Santiago, David A Sessoms
1Department of Horticulture, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY 14853, USA.
Lab on a Chip
|June 6, 2014
Summary
A new microtensiometer extends water potential measurement range to below -10 MPa, enabling precise studies of water
Area of Science:
- Environmental Science
- Materials Science
- Physical Chemistry
Background:
- Tensiometers measure water potential (Ψw) by sensing internal liquid pressure.
- Sub-saturated conditions create negative pressure (tension) in the liquid.
- Existing tensiometers have limited measurement ranges.
Purpose of the Study:
- To introduce and characterize a novel microtensiometer.
- To demonstrate its extended operational range and applications.
- To explore fundamental properties of water under tension.
Main Methods:
- Fabrication of a microtensiometer using a microelectromechanical pressure sensor and nanoporous membrane.
- Calibration and operational mechanism explanation.
- Measurement of the equation of state for liquid water.
Main Results:
- Stable operation of the microtensiometer below -10 MPa water potential.
- A tenfold extension in measurement range compared to conventional tensiometers.
- Accurate determination of the equation of state for water down to -14 MPa.
Conclusions:
- The new microtensiometer offers significantly enhanced range and stability.
- Its small form factor and extended range open new possibilities for water sensing.
- Facilitates fundamental research into the thermodynamic properties of water.
Related Concept Videos
01:16Measurement of Fluid Pressure
2.3K
Fluid pressure is commonly measured using devices called manometers, which rely on liquid columns to indicate pressure differences. The height of a liquid column in a manometer reflects the pressure exerted by the fluid, providing a simple yet effective means of measurement. Different types of manometers serve specific purposes based on their configurations and the type of fluids involved.
A basic form of manometer is the piezometer, a vertical tube open at the top and filled with the same...
A basic form of manometer is the piezometer, a vertical tube open at the top and filled with the same...
2.3K
01:06Potentiometry: Overview
4.4K
Potentiometry is an analytical technique that measures the potential difference between two electrodes in an electrochemical cell without drawing any significant current that could alter the solution's composition. This method employs an indicator electrode, which exchanges electrons with the analyte solution, and a reference electrode with a constant potential. Each electrode is immersed in a solution comprised of two half-cells. In a conventional setup, the reference electrode serves as...
4.4K
01:15Potentiometry: Membrane Electrodes
2.2K
Membrane electrodes, also known as p-ion electrodes, use membranes that selectively interact with free analyte ions, generating a potential difference across the membrane. The resulting membrane potential, known as the asymmetry potential, is not zero even when analyte concentrations on both sides of the membrane are equal. The membrane's response is typically not selective to a single analyte but proportional to the concentration of all ions in the sample solution capable of interacting at...
2.2K
01:31Potentiometric Titration: Overview
5.7K
Potentiometric titration is a quantitative analytical technique that determines the concentration of an analyte by measuring the potential difference between the two electrodes in the solution. The endpoint of a potentiometric titration is the point at which there is a significant change in the potential difference. It occurs when the stoichiometric reaction between the analyte and the titrant is complete. The endpoint is usually determined graphically by plotting the measured potential...
5.7K
01:30Potentiometer
2.8K
Voltage and current measurements using a standard voltmeter and ammeter alter the circuit being measured either by drawing or resisting the current flow, which introduces uncertainties in the measurements. Null measurements balance the voltages so that no current flows through the measuring device and, therefore, no alterations occur in the measured circuit.
Suppose the emf of a battery needs to be measured. If the battery is directly connected to a standard voltmeter, the measured quantity is...
Suppose the emf of a battery needs to be measured. If the battery is directly connected to a standard voltmeter, the measured quantity is...
2.8K