Long‐Term Stability, Noise, and Temperature Sensitivity of Modular Porous‐Pot Electrodes Designed for Geophysical and Geotechnical Applications, and Details of Their Construction
Abstract Electrodes are used to measure a potential difference between two points. In geophysical and geotechnical applications they are often in the form of non‐polarizable porous‐pot electrodes. Here we describe the design, construction, and testing of modular and refillable electrodes, which faci...
| Main Authors: | , , |
|---|---|
| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
American Geophysical Union (AGU)
2024-02-01
|
| Series: | Earth and Space Science |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1029/2023EA003327 |
| _version_ | 1797290126118748160 |
|---|---|
| author | Matthew J. Comeau Stefan Ueding Michael Becken |
| author_facet | Matthew J. Comeau Stefan Ueding Michael Becken |
| author_sort | Matthew J. Comeau |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract Electrodes are used to measure a potential difference between two points. In geophysical and geotechnical applications they are often in the form of non‐polarizable porous‐pot electrodes. Here we describe the design, construction, and testing of modular and refillable electrodes, which facilitates repair as the electrodes degrade over time. We use a chemical composition based on a metal in contact with an over‐saturated electrolyte that consists of a salt of that metal and an auxiliary salt. We compare characteristics when the electrolyte is stabilized in a clay or not, and with various states of ceramic porous plugs and two types of wood plugs. Next, we assess the long‐term stability (more than 1 month), noise (periods of 1 s to 1 hr), and temperature sensitivity of different types of electrodes. Electrodes with an electrolyte and clay formula showed lower noise (0.2–0.4 μV at periods of 1–120 s), greater long‐term stability (0.05–0.5 mV/month of smooth drift), and greater consistency between samples measured than those with no clay (noise and drift values up to four times larger). The effects from different porous plugs were negligible, with similar results for ceramic and wood types. The temperature sensitivity of the electric potential was assessed, from −3 to 35°C. All electrodes showed a temperature sensitivity of about −30 μV/°C. This is considered very low compared to some commercially available electrodes. Finally, continuous long‐term laboratory and field measurements of the potential highlight the application of the new electrodes. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-07T19:16:58Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-43821b3460f7490eb46e4d04e2787ae2 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2333-5084 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-07T19:16:58Z |
| publishDate | 2024-02-01 |
| publisher | American Geophysical Union (AGU) |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Earth and Space Science |
| spelling | doaj.art-43821b3460f7490eb46e4d04e2787ae22024-02-29T13:15:57ZengAmerican Geophysical Union (AGU)Earth and Space Science2333-50842024-02-01112n/an/a10.1029/2023EA003327Long‐Term Stability, Noise, and Temperature Sensitivity of Modular Porous‐Pot Electrodes Designed for Geophysical and Geotechnical Applications, and Details of Their ConstructionMatthew J. Comeau0Stefan Ueding1Michael Becken2Delft University of Technology Department of Geoscience and Engineering Delft The NetherlandsUniversität Münster Institut für Geophysik Münster GermanyUniversität Münster Institut für Geophysik Münster GermanyAbstract Electrodes are used to measure a potential difference between two points. In geophysical and geotechnical applications they are often in the form of non‐polarizable porous‐pot electrodes. Here we describe the design, construction, and testing of modular and refillable electrodes, which facilitates repair as the electrodes degrade over time. We use a chemical composition based on a metal in contact with an over‐saturated electrolyte that consists of a salt of that metal and an auxiliary salt. We compare characteristics when the electrolyte is stabilized in a clay or not, and with various states of ceramic porous plugs and two types of wood plugs. Next, we assess the long‐term stability (more than 1 month), noise (periods of 1 s to 1 hr), and temperature sensitivity of different types of electrodes. Electrodes with an electrolyte and clay formula showed lower noise (0.2–0.4 μV at periods of 1–120 s), greater long‐term stability (0.05–0.5 mV/month of smooth drift), and greater consistency between samples measured than those with no clay (noise and drift values up to four times larger). The effects from different porous plugs were negligible, with similar results for ceramic and wood types. The temperature sensitivity of the electric potential was assessed, from −3 to 35°C. All electrodes showed a temperature sensitivity of about −30 μV/°C. This is considered very low compared to some commercially available electrodes. Finally, continuous long‐term laboratory and field measurements of the potential highlight the application of the new electrodes.https://doi.org/10.1029/2023EA003327electrodetelluricexploration geophysicsmagnetotelluricselectrical resistivity |
| spellingShingle | Matthew J. Comeau Stefan Ueding Michael Becken Long‐Term Stability, Noise, and Temperature Sensitivity of Modular Porous‐Pot Electrodes Designed for Geophysical and Geotechnical Applications, and Details of Their Construction Earth and Space Science electrode telluric exploration geophysics magnetotellurics electrical resistivity |
| title | Long‐Term Stability, Noise, and Temperature Sensitivity of Modular Porous‐Pot Electrodes Designed for Geophysical and Geotechnical Applications, and Details of Their Construction |
| title_full | Long‐Term Stability, Noise, and Temperature Sensitivity of Modular Porous‐Pot Electrodes Designed for Geophysical and Geotechnical Applications, and Details of Their Construction |
| title_fullStr | Long‐Term Stability, Noise, and Temperature Sensitivity of Modular Porous‐Pot Electrodes Designed for Geophysical and Geotechnical Applications, and Details of Their Construction |
| title_full_unstemmed | Long‐Term Stability, Noise, and Temperature Sensitivity of Modular Porous‐Pot Electrodes Designed for Geophysical and Geotechnical Applications, and Details of Their Construction |
| title_short | Long‐Term Stability, Noise, and Temperature Sensitivity of Modular Porous‐Pot Electrodes Designed for Geophysical and Geotechnical Applications, and Details of Their Construction |
| title_sort | long term stability noise and temperature sensitivity of modular porous pot electrodes designed for geophysical and geotechnical applications and details of their construction |
| topic | electrode telluric exploration geophysics magnetotellurics electrical resistivity |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1029/2023EA003327 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT matthewjcomeau longtermstabilitynoiseandtemperaturesensitivityofmodularporouspotelectrodesdesignedforgeophysicalandgeotechnicalapplicationsanddetailsoftheirconstruction AT stefanueding longtermstabilitynoiseandtemperaturesensitivityofmodularporouspotelectrodesdesignedforgeophysicalandgeotechnicalapplicationsanddetailsoftheirconstruction AT michaelbecken longtermstabilitynoiseandtemperaturesensitivityofmodularporouspotelectrodesdesignedforgeophysicalandgeotechnicalapplicationsanddetailsoftheirconstruction |