Antifreezing Ag/AgCl reference electrodes: Fabrication and applications

As a promising antifreeze, Ethylene glycol (EG) was employed for preparation of new types of antifreezing Ag/AgCl reference electrodes. Different proportions of EG were used as antifreezing additives in the inner electrolyte of Ag/AgCl reference electrode. The potential shifts of the resultant reference electrodes are less than 10 mV in the wide range of temperatures (25 ∼ −40 °C), which extends their application at low temperatures. In addition, the proposed antifreezing electrodes maintain non-polarizable and reversible nature of the initial Ag/AgCl ones even in low-temperature environment. Finally, to ensure their stability at low temperatures, the antifreezing reference electrodes were applied in various low-temperature electrochemical systems.

► Antifreezing Ag/AgCl reference electrode was fabricated.
► Ethylene glycol was adopted as antifreezing additive for electrode’s electrolyte.
► The antifreezing reference electrode possesses constant potential even at low temperature.
► The reference electrode can be applied in low-temperature electrochemical system.