TY - JOUR AB - Purpose– Corrosion sensors and networks are the most effective techniques to obtain the corrosion information and recognize the corrosion status of reinforced concrete structures. However, reference electrode is the key element to provide the baseline for potential control of the corrosion monitoring sensors during corrosion measurement process. Therefore, the purpose of this paper is to provide the novel solid‐state reference electrode for the corrosion sensors.Design/methodology/approach– A solid‐state Ag/AgCl reference electrode has been prepared. Furthermore, the performance of the reference electrode, such as stability, temperature response, anti‐polarization and influence of the concrete admixture, has been investigated.Findings– The results indicate that the balance potential and the temperature coefficient of the reference electrode are 3.64±1mv (vs. SCE) at 25°C and −0.51 mv/°C±0.03 mv/°C, respectively. Furthermore, the polarization curve exhibits characteristics of three stages as the polarization current is in (−10μA/cm2,+10μA/cm2). Additionally, the reference electrode is insensitive to the concrete admixtures which include Na2SO4, NaCl, NaNO3 and NaNO2.Originality/value– The research provides the key element for the corrosion monitoring sensors to integrate structural health monitoring system in future. VL - 32 IS - 2 SN - 0260-2288 DO - 10.1108/02602281211209400 UR - https://doi.org/10.1108/02602281211209400 AU - Qiao Guofu AU - Xiao Huigang AU - Hong Yi AU - Qiu Yuelan PY - 2012 Y1 - 2012/01/01 TI - Preparation and characterization of the solid‐state Ag/AgCl reference electrode for RC structures T2 - Sensor Review PB - Emerald Group Publishing Limited SP - 118 EP - 122 Y2 - 2024/04/19 ER -