Clark electrode

Abstract: In this paper we use continuum modeling to analyze the mechanism of the oxygen reduction reaction at a porous mixed‐conducting oxygen electrode. We show that for at 700°C, solid‐state oxygen diffusion and surface exchange dominate the electrochemical behavior, producing effective "chemical" resistances and capacitances. This behavior can be explained both qualitatively and quantitatively in terms of the known bulk and surface properties of the materials. This mechanism appears to be generally valid for mixed conductors with high rates of internal mass transfer, but breaks down for mixed conductors that have poor ionic transport. Our analysis also suggests that, for the best electrode materials, extension of the reaction zone beyond the three‐phase boundary is limited to a few micrometers. We also show that gas phase diffusion resistance can contribute significantly to cell impedance at .

Abstract: A mathematical model for an ion-exchange membrane attached to a gas-fed porous electrode is derived and discussed. The model is applied to simulate the oxygen electrode of a polymer-electrolyte fuel cell. Our discussion focuses on cell polarization characteristics, water transport, and catalyst utilization—all of which must be considered for fuel-cell design. Calculated polarization behavior is shown to compare favorably with published experimental data. Our results indicate that if the membrane maintains full saturation, its contribution to the total cell resistance is most significant at higher operating current densities (greater than 200 mA/cm2). Polarization resistance due to the oxygen reduction reaction appears to be important for all practical current densities. Water transport, driven by pressure and electric-potential forces, is shown to be a complicated function of the cell operating conditions. The utilization and distribution of noble-metal catalyst is discussed.

Abstract: Rational design and exploration of robust and low-cost bifunctional oxygen reduction/evolution electrocatalysts are greatly desired for metal–air batteries. Herein, a novel high-performance oxygen electrode catalyst is developed based on bimetal FeCo nanoparticles encapsulated in in situ grown nitrogen-doped graphitic carbon nanotubes with bamboo-like structure. The obtained catalyst exhibits a positive half-wave potential of 0.92 V (vs the reversible hydrogen electrode, RHE) for oxygen reduction reaction, and a low operating potential of 1.73 V to achieve a 10 mA cm−2 current density for oxygen evolution reaction. The reversible oxygen electrode index is 0.81 V, surpassing that of most highly active bifunctional catalysts reported to date. By combining experimental and simulation studies, a strong synergetic coupling between FeCo alloy and N-doped carbon nanotubes is proposed in producing a favorable local coordination environment and electronic structure, which affords the pyridinic N-rich catalyst surface promoting the reversible oxygen reactions. Impressively, the assembled zinc–air batteries using liquid electrolytes and the all-solid-state batteries with the synthesized bifunctional catalyst as the air electrode demonstrate superior charging–discharging performance, long lifetime, and high flexibility, holding great potential in practical implementation of new-generation powerful rechargeable batteries with portable or even wearable characteristic.

Abstract: Summary The construction, operation and calibration of an improved form of a Clark oxygen electrode are described in detail The electrode shows a rapid response (1–5 seconds) to change in oxygen concentration and is capable of measuring rates of oxygen evolution (or uptake) of up to 4 μmoles oxygen per minute The use of a pair of electrodes to measure the oxygen evolution of choloroplasts at high intensity of illumination is described