An All-Solid-State Ti/RuOx pH Electrode Prepared Based on the Thermal Oxidation Method.

The development of all-solid-state precise pH electrodes holds significant importance in various fields, particularly in marine scientific research. To achieve this goal, we proposed a novel fabrication technique for an all-solid-state ruthenium oxide (Ti/RuOx) pH electrode. We thin-coated the RuCl3 precursor solution on a titanium wire substrate using a heat gun repeatedly and then calcined it in a mixture of Li2CO3 and Na2O2 at 400 °C to obtain a ruthenium oxide (RuOx) film. This RuOx film was subjected to acid treatment with dilute nitric acid, and a polytetrafluoroethylene heat shrink tube was wrapped around the non-RuOx film area. Finally, the RuOx film was fully immersed in a pH 4.00 buffer solution, finalizing the electrode preparation. The RuOx film exhibits a dense and regular conical morphology. The Ti/RuOx electrode demonstrates a good near-Nernstian response slope (e.g., -59.04 mV/pH at 25 °C), high linearity (e.g., R2 = 0.9999), rapid response (<1 s), low hysteresis (<3 mV), excellent reversibility, and good repeatability in the pH range of 2.00-10.00. After full hydration, the Ti/RuOx electrode shows a potential drift of 8.5 mV and a drift rate of approximately 0.27 mV/day over a period of 25 days, indicating good long-term stability. Furthermore, the Ti/RuOx electrode exhibits robust resistance against interference from various ions and low-concentration redox substances, ensuring a long storage life (at least 280 days), and high measurement accuracy (e.g., ± 0.02 pH units) for diverse water samples, including seawater, freshwater, and tap water. This study has evaluated the potential of the Ti/RuOx electrode as a reliable and accurate tool for pH measurements in marine scientific applications.

Adaptive measurement method for miniature spectrometers used in cold environments.

Adaptive measurement is a major concern when using miniature spectrometers in extreme environments, especially when the ambient temperatures and incident light intensities vary greatly. In this study, parameters, including the signal output and the relevant noise and signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) of a fiber optic spectrometry system composed of a photodiode array miniature spectrometer and external driver electronics were examined at multiple integration times from -50°C to 30°C, well below the specified operating temperature of this spectrometer. The relationships between those parameters and incident light level were also examined, at a single temperature of 0°C. Based on these examinations, temperature-induced biases in the linear operating range of the spectrometer were identified. Signal output and the relevant noise and SNR in response to different integration times, temperatures, and incident light levels were assessed separately. These assessments were then used to develop an adaptive measurement method for estimating the incident light level and setting up an optimal integration time for this spectrometer, while autonomously adapting the variation in the ambient temperature and incident light level simultaneously. This approach provides a general framework for developing an adaptive measurement algorithm for miniature spectrometers, which face tremendous variations in ambient temperature and incident light level.