Embeddable Chloride Sensor for Monitoring Chloride Penetration into Cement Mortar.

A composite solid chloride sensor consisting of two single sensors, i.e., Ag/AgCl working electrode and Mn/MnO2 reference electrode, was developed. The Ag/AgCl electrode was prepared by the anodic polarization method, while the Mn/MnO2 reference electrode was prepared using the powder compaction technique. Then, the electrochemical performances such as stability, reproducibility, and sensitivity of the composite and single sensors were investigated in a saturated Ca(OH)2 solution and mortar specimen. A current density of 0.5 mA/cm2 and polarization time of 2.5 h were the optimal preparation parameters of the Ag/AgCl selective electrode. The Ag/AgCl selective electrode showed a linear potential response with the logarithm of chloride ion content in solution and had good stability, reproducibility, and anti-polarization performances. In addition, the Mn/MnO2 electrode exhibited potential stability after being activated in an alkaline solution for 60 days. The composite sensor demonstrated exceptional sensitivity to the Cl- content, boasting a slope of approximately 51.1 mV/decade, and showcased excellent stability in both solution and mortar specimens. In every measurement, the time needed for the potential of a composite sensor to become stable was less than 30 s. The sensor enables non-destructive in situ monitoring of the chloride ion content in cement mortar, thus realizing early warning of deterioration of reinforcement and guaranteeing long service life of the structure.

Application of Ag/AgCl Sensor for Chloride Monitoring of Mortar under Dry-Wet Cycles.

An Ag/AgCl electrode used as a corrosion sensor in a reinforced concrete structure isconsidered as having good application prospect. However, its performance under complexconditions, such as dry-wet cycle condition, is not affirmed. In the current study, the performanceof Ag/AgCl as chloride selective electrode in mortar exposed to dry-wet cycle condition wasinvestigated. A simple Ag/AgCl electrode was prepared and fabricated by electrochemicalanodization. These Ag/AgCl electrodes were embedded into a mortar specimen with temperaturesensors, humidity sensors and anode ladder monitoring system (ALS). After 28 d curing time, theupper surface of mortar specimen was wetted (with 5% NaCl solution) and dried regularly. Theobtained results indicate that Ag/AgCl electrode responds to the ingress of chloride ion, sensitively.The chloride ion concentration variation can be reflected by the potential trend. Furthermore, thebalance potential of Ag/AgCl electrodes is influenced by dry-wet cycles. Compared with ALS, itdemonstrates that Ag/AgCl electrodes are more sensitive to chloride. The research provides the keyelement for the specific application of Ag/AgCl electrode for corrosion monitoring in the future.

Determination of Chloride Content in Cementitious Materials: From Fundamental Aspects to Application of Ag/AgCl Chloride Sensors.

This paper reports on the advantages and drawbacks of available test methods for the determination of chloride content in cementitious materials in general, and the application of Ag/AgCl chloride sensors in particular. The main factors that affect the reliability of a chloride sensor are presented. The thermodynamic behaviour of silver in the presence or absence of chloride ions is described and kinetic restrictions are addressed. The parameters that can affect the activity of chloride ions in the medium and/or the rate of ion exchange and dissolution/precipitation processes at the sensor's surface are also considered. In this regard, the contribution of morphology and microstructure of the AgCl layer, binding of chloride ions and the compactness of hydration products around the chloride sensor are highlighted. The important parameters for a reliable sensor's response are discussed and the possible causes of inaccuracies are evaluated.

Minimization of Parasitic Capacitance between Skin and Ag/AgCl Dry Electrodes.

Conventional dry electrodes often yield unstable results due to the presence of parasitic capacitance between the flat electrode surface and the non-uniform skin interface. To address this issue, a gel is typically placed between the electrodes to minimize parasitic capacitance. However, this approach has the drawbacks of being unsuitable for repeated use, limited lifetime due to gel evaporation, and the possibility of developing skin irritation. This is particularly problematic in underserved areas since, due to the cost of disposable wet electrodes, they often sterilize and reuse dry electrodes. In this study, we propose a method to neutralize the effects of parasitic capacitance by attaching high-value capacitors to the electrodes in parallel, specifically when applied to pulse wave monitoring through bioimpedance. Skin capacitance can also be mitigated due to the serial connection, enabling stable reception of arterial pulse signals through bioimpedance circuits. A high-frequency structure simulator (HFSS) was first used to simulate the capacitance when injection currents flow into the arteries through the bioimpedance circuits. We also used the simulation to investigate the effects of add-on capacitors. Lastly, we conducted preliminary comparative analyses between wet electrodes and dry electrodes in vivo with added capacitance values ranging from 100 pF to 1 µF, altering capacitance magnitudes by factors of 100. As a result, we obtained a signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) that was 8.2 dB higher than that of dry electrodes. Performance was also shown to be comparable to wet electrodes, with a reduction of only 0.4 dB using 1 µF. The comparative results demonstrate that the addition of capacitors to the electrodes has the potential to allow for performance similar to that of wet electrodes for bioimpedance pulse rate monitoring and could potentially be used for other applications of dry electrodes.

Sensitivities of key parameters in the preparation of silver/silver chloride electrodes used in Harned cell measurements of pH.

A questionnaire was completed by fourteen world leading national metrology institutes to study the influence of several variables in the preparation of Ag/AgCl electrodes on the accuracy of Harned cell measurements of pH. The performance of each institute in the last decade has been assessed based on their results in eight key comparisons, organized by the Bureau International des Poids et Measures Consultative Committee for Amount of Substance, involving the measurement of pH of phosphate, phthalate, carbonate, borate and tetroxalate buffer solutions. The performance of each laboratory has been correlated to the results of the questionnaire to determine the critical parameters in the preparation of Ag/AgCl electrodes and their sensitivities with respect to the accuracy of pH measurement. This study reveals that the parameters most closely correlated to performance in comparisons are area of electrode wire exposed to the electrolyte, diameter and porosity of the Ag sphere prior to anodisation, amount of Ag converted to AgCl during anodisation, stability times employed for electrodes to reach equilibrium in solution prior to measurement, electrode rejection criteria employed and purity of reagents.

Facial Fabrication and Characterization of Novel Ag/AgCl Chloride Ion Sensor Based on Gel-Type Electrolyte.

In this study, a novel chloride ion (Cl-) sensor based on Ag wire coated with an AgCl layer was fabricated using a gel-type internal electrolyte and a diatomite ceramic membrane, which played an important role in preventing electrolyte leakage from the ion-selective electrode. The sensing performance, including reversibility, response, recovery time, low detection limit, and the long-term stability, was systemically investigated in electrolytes with different Cl- contents. The as-fabricated Cl- sensor could detect Cl- from 1 to 500 mM KCl solution with good linearity. The best response and recovery time obtained for the optimized sensor were 0.5 and 0.1 s, respectively, for 10 mM KCl solution. An exposure period of over 60 days was used to evaluate the stability of the Cl- sensor in KCl solution. A relative error of 2% was observed between the initial and final response potentials. Further, a wireless sensing system based on Arduino was also investigated to measure the response potential of Cl- in an electrolyte. The sensor exhibited high reliability with a low standard error of measurement. This type of sensor is crucial for fabricating wireless Cl- sensors for applications in reinforced concrete structures along with favorable performances.