Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Measurement of the Direct-Current (Faradic) Resistance of the Electrode-Electrolyte Interface for Commonly Used Electrode Materials

  • Published:
Annals of Biomedical Engineering Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

The direct-current (Faradic) resistance is important because it is the highest impedance that an electrode-electrolyte interface can attain. In this study, the Faradic resistance (Rf) of identical pairs of 0.5 cm2 electrodes of bare and chlorided silver, tin and chlorided tin, nickel–silver, copper, and carbon was measured in contact with 0.9% saline at room temperature. It was found that for positive and negative current flow, the data fit the expression Rf=Rf0e--α i (with a high coefficient of determination), where Rf0 is the zero-current Faradic resistance and α is a constant that describes the manner in which Rf decreases with increasing current (i). It was found that chlorided silver exhibited the lowest Rf0 removing the chloride deposit increased Rf0 by more than sixfold. Likewise, chloriding tin reduced Rf0 by a factor of about 2. Electrolytically cleaning an electrode reduced Rf0. The highest value for Rf0 was for carbon. This paper concludes with a summary of the data for Rf0 scaled to 1 cm2 electrode area for the electrode materials measured in the present study and data from the published literature. © 2001 Biomedical Engineering Society.

PAC01: 8780-y, 8437+q, 8768+z, 8719Nn

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

REFERENCES

  1. AAMI-ANSI. Disposable ECG Electrodes EC12, 1991. Association for the Advancement of Medical Instrumentation (AAMI 3330 Washington Blvd., Arlington, VA 22201–4598

  2. Artz, W. Silicone-rubber electrodes for long-term patient monitoring. Biomed. Eng. 5:300–330, 1970.

    Google Scholar 

  3. d'Arsonval, A. Electrodes impolarisable homogenes. Comptes Rendus 38:288–289, 1886.

    Google Scholar 

  4. Faraday, M. Experimental researches in electricity. 7th series. Philos. Trans. R. Soc. London 124:77–12, 1834.

    Google Scholar 

  5. Ferrari, R. K. X-ray transmissive transcutaneous stimulating electrode. US Patent No. 5,571,165 (5 Nov. 1996).

  6. Geddes, L. A., L. E. Baker, and A. G. Moore. Optimum electrolytic chloriding of silver electrodes. Med. Biol. Eng. Comput. 7:49–56, 1969.

    Google Scholar 

  7. Geddes, L. A. Evolution of circuit models for the electrode-electrolyte interface. Ann. Biomed. Eng. 25:1–14, 1997.

    Google Scholar 

  8. Geddes, L. A., and L. E. Baker. Principles of Applied Bio-medical Instrumentation. 2nd ed. New York: Wiley, 1975.

    Google Scholar 

  9. Getzel, W. A., and J. G. Webster. Minimizing silver-silver chloride electrode impedance. IEEE Trans. Biomed. Eng. 23:87–88, 1976.

    Google Scholar 

  10. Grubbs, D. S. New technique for reducing the impedance of silver silver-chloride electrodes. Med. Biol. Eng. Comput. 21:232–234, 1983.

    Google Scholar 

  11. Heath, R. L. Tin-stannous chloride electrode element. US Patent No. 4,852,585 (1 Aug. 1989).

  12. James, W. B., and H. B. Williams. The electrocardiogram in clinical medicine. Am. J. Med. 140:408–421, 1910.

    Google Scholar 

  13. Jenkner, F. A new electrode material for multipurpose bio-medical application. EEG Clin. Neurophysiol. 23:570–571, 1967.

    Google Scholar 

  14. Kado, R. T., W. R. Adey, and J. R. Zweizig. Electrode systems for recording EEG from physically active subjects. Proc. Ann. Conf. Eng. Med. Biol. 6:1–129, 1964.

    Google Scholar 

  15. Marmont, G. Studies on the axon membrane. J. Cell. Comp. Physiol. 34:351–381, 1949.

    Google Scholar 

  16. Mayer, S., L. A. Geddes, J. D. Bourland, and L. Ogborn. A new method for measuring the Faradic resistance of a single electrode-electrolyte interface. Australas. Phys. Eng. Sci. Med. 15:38–41, 1992.

    Google Scholar 

  17. Mayer, S., L. A. Geddes, J. D. Bourland, and L. Ogborn. The Faradic resistance of the electrode-electrolyte interface. Med. Biol. Eng. Comput. 30:538–542, 1992.

    Google Scholar 

  18. Monter, R. P., A. M. Hall, and J. V. Cartmell. Electrode and conductor therefore. US No. Patent 3,976,055 (24 Aug. 1976).

  19. Ragheb, T., and L. A. Geddes. The polarization impedance of common electrode metals operated at low current density. Ann. Biomed. Eng. 19:151–163, 1991.

    Google Scholar 

  20. Schwan, H. P. Determination of biological impedances. In Physical Techniques in Biological Research. New York: Academic, 1968, Vol. V1B.

    Google Scholar 

  21. Volta, A. On the electricity excited by the mere contact of conductors of different kinds. Philos. Trans. R. Soc. London 403–431, 1800.

  22. Warburg, E. —Ueber das Verhalten sogenanter unpolarsbarer Elektroden gegen Wechselstrons. Ann. Phys. Chim. 67:493–499, 1899.

    Google Scholar 

  23. Warburg, E. —Ueber die eolarisations Capacitat des Platins. Ann. Phys. 6:125–135, 1901.

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Biomedical Engineering, Purdue University, W. Lafayettte, IN

    L. A. Geddes & R. Roeder

Authors
  1. L. A. Geddes
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. R. Roeder
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Geddes, L.A., Roeder, R. Measurement of the Direct-Current (Faradic) Resistance of the Electrode-Electrolyte Interface for Commonly Used Electrode Materials. Annals of Biomedical Engineering 29, 181–186 (2001). https://doi.org/10.1114/1.1349699

Download citation

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1114/1.1349699

Keywords

Search

Navigation