Concurrent Potentiometric and Amperometric Sensing With Shared Reference Electrodes

Potentiometry and amperometry are the two most common electrochemical sensing methods. They are conventionally performed at different times, although new applications are emerging that require their simultaneous usage in a single electrochemical cell. This paper investigates the feasibility and potential drawbacks of such a setup. We use a potentiometric and an amperometric sensor to compare their output signals when they are used individually, as well as when they are combined together with a shared reference electrode. Our results in particular show that potentiometric readings with a shared reference electrode show a high correlation of 0.9981 with conventional potentiometry. In the case of amperometric sensing, the cross correlation of the simultaneous versus individual measurement is 0.9959. Furthermore, we also demonstrate concurrent measurement for potentiometry in the presence of cell current through the design of innovative test systems. This is done through measuring both varying pH values and varying concentrations of H2O2 to showcase the operation of the circuit.

Automated summary

This study investigates the feasibility of simultaneous use of potentiometry and amperometry in a single electrochemical cell, showing high correlation in potentiometric readings with a shared reference electrode and good cross correlation in amperometric sensing. Through innovative test systems, the concurrent measurement for potentiometry in the presence of cell current is successfully demonstrated.