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Updated: Jan 23, 2026
07:23
Fabrication of Thin Film Silver/Silver Chloride Electrodes with Finely Controlled Single Layer Silver Chloride
Published on: July 1, 2020
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A Stable Aqueous Silver/Silver Chloride Reference Electrode with an Operational Temperature Window from 233 to 353 K
Vijay Vaiyadurai1, Shrihari Sankarasubramanian1,2
1Department of Biomedical Engineering and Chemical Engineering, University of Texas at San Antonio, San Antonio, Texas 78249, United States.
Analytical Chemistry
|January 22, 2026
Summary
A new silver/silver chloride reference electrode using lithium chloride electrolyte operates reliably from -40°C to 80°C. This stable electrode is ideal for extreme environments like space missions and cryogenic systems.
Area of Science:
- Electrochemistry
- Materials Science
- Space Science
Background:
- Reliable reference electrodes are crucial for electrochemical measurements in extreme environments.
- Conventional aqueous reference electrodes fail in extreme temperatures due to electrolyte freezing.
Purpose of the Study:
- To develop and validate a novel Ag/AgCl | 5.49 M LiCl reference electrode for extreme temperature applications.
- To establish the performance and potential of this new reference electrode.
Main Methods:
- Developed a custom Ag/AgCl | 5.49 M LiCl reference electrode.
- Tested performance using cyclic voltammetry of the ferrocyanide/ferricyanide redox couple.
- Determined reference potential against the reversible hydrogen electrode (RHE) with liquid junction potential correction.
Main Results:
- The reference electrode operated stably between -40°C and +80°C.
- Experimental reference potential (0.152 V vs SHE) closely matched theoretical Nernstian calculations (0.155 V vs SHE).
- Demonstrated ideal Nernstian pH response (∼60 mV/pH).
Conclusions:
- The Ag/AgCl | 5.49 M LiCl system is a viable new standard reference electrode.
- This electrode is suitable for electrochemical applications in space missions (Moon, Mars, ocean worlds), cryogenic systems, and harsh terrestrial environments.
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