Reference electrodes for use in nonaqueous solutions

Abstract

This chapter deals with the problem of the reference electrodes for use in conventional nonaqueous solvents, mainly from practical aspects. The reference electrodes used in nonaqueous solvents can be classified into two groups. One group uses, in constructing reference electrodes, the same solvent as that of the solution under study. The other group uses a solvent different from that of the solution under study; in most cases, aqueous reference electrodes are used but, in some cases, nonaqueous solvents other than that of the solution under study are used. Aqueous reference electrodes are usually an aqueous silver/silver chloride (Ag/AgCl) electrode or a calomel electrode (mostly saturated calomel electrode, SCE). Here, the reference electrodes of these two groups are discussed in detail in Sects. 6.1 and 6.2.