Reference electrodes for solid-electrolyte devices

Abstract

Solid electrolytes are a class of solids where electrical conduction occurs predominantly via migration of ions and the overall level of ionic transport is high enough for practical applications, whilst electronic contribution to the total electrical conductivity is negligible. This term is commonly used for the materials with ion transport numbers (t ion) equal to or higher than 0.99 under given external conditions. The range of conditions (temperature, pressure, and thermodynamic activities of components) where t ion ≥ 0.99 is often called the electrolytic domain. A large number of solid electrolytes (SEs) with mono-, bi-, and trivalent ion charge carriers are known. The groups important from the practical point of view include [1-5].