Reference Electrodes

About

What is a Reference Electrode? | Browse Reference Electrodes | Reference Electrode Set-Up | Aqueous vs. Non-Aqueous Cell | Luggin Capillary Application-Based Selection Guide | Other Types of Reference Electrode | Resources We offer both aqueous and non-aqueous reference electrodes, as well as replacement half cells to use with your electrochemical set up. Reference Electrode in Three Electrode Cell What is a Reference Electrode? A reference electrode (RE) is a critical component in a three-electrode electrochemical system, providing stable and well-defined electrochemical potential to act as a fixed voltage baseline in electrochemical measurements. The reference electrode allows an accurate measurement of the potential of a working electrode without interference, crucial for techniques like voltammetry and potentiometry. The RE is often isolated from the rest of the electrolyte, functioning as a half-cell with a well-defined chemical equilibrium that remains unchanged under controlled conditions. This reaction stays “locked” at a specific voltage as long as the internal chloride concentration remains unchanged. This allows you to measure the working electrode’s potential accurately (at a set of external conditions) without the reference point drifting. Aqueous silver/silver chloride (Ag/AgCl) and non-aqueous silver/silver ion (Ag/Ag + ) electrodes are the most popular practical reference electrodes due to their stability, robustness, and lack of mercury. Ag/AgCl reference electrode is the standard for general aqueous electrochemistry, corrosion testing, and biosensors. Double-junction designs are available for use in chloride-sensitive samples or with specific ion-selective electrodes to prevent contamination. To maintain the high quality of our electrodes, consider using our electrode polishing kit. Browse Reference Electrodes Related categories: substrates and fabrication , electrochemical cells , photoelectrochemical cells , potentiostat , electrochemistry [[spli