Portable and precise measurements with interdigital electrodes at wide range of conductivity

A planar structure of the electrodes employed in conductivity measurements is utilizable at small-range of conductivity measurement because of small sizes, planar ordering and technology which significantly influence the impedance behavior. The paper presents new approach in the field of precise electrolytic conductivity measurements with planar sensors. This novel measuring method was suggested for measurement using thick-film screen-printed interdigital electrodes (IDEs). Correction characteristics over a wide range of specific conductivities were determined from an interface impedance characterization of the IDEs. A local minimum of the imaginary part of the interface impedance is used for corrections to get linear responses. The method is seeking the optimal frequency for determination of specific conductivity of the solution by IDEs in order to achieve a highly accurate response. The method takes precise conductivity measurements in concentration ranges from 10(-6) M to 1 M without cell replacement.