Electrochemical corrosion potential sensor and method of making

1. A sensor for measuring electrochemical corrosion potential comprising:

an electrical conductor comprising a metal;

a metal-oxide coating layer disposed on the electrical conductor comprising an oxide of the metal of the electrical conductor;

a zirconia-containing layer disposed on the metal-oxide layer; and not comprising a metal/metal oxide powder packing.

2. The sensor of claim 1 , wherein the metal oxide coating layer has an operating lifetime of at least one fuel cycle of a nuclear reactor.

3. The sensor of claim 1 , wherein the electrical conductor comprises nickel, iron, copper, titanium, silver, platinum, tungsten, tantalum, an alloy comprising at least one of the foregoing, or a combination comprising at least one of the foregoing.

4. The sensor of claim 3 , wherein the alloy is stainless steel.

5. The sensor of claim 1 , wherein the zirconia-containing layer comprises zirconia, magnesia stabilized zirconia, yttria stabilized zirconia, calcia stabilized zirconia, scandia stabilized zirconia, or a combination comprising at least one of the foregoing.

6. The sensor of claim 1 , further comprising a central conducting cable coupled to the electrical conductor for electrical communication therewith.

7. The sensor of claim 6 , further comprising an insulating sleeve disposed about the central conducting cable.

8. The sensor of claim 1 , wherein the zirconia-containing layer has a thickness of about 1 micrometer to about 3 millimeters.

9. The sensor of claim 1 , wherein the zirconia-containing layer is disposed about the electrical conductor using thermal spraying, wire arc, ion plasma cathodic arc deposition, laser ablation, chemical vapor deposition, physical vapor deposition, electroplating, electroless plating, electrochemical oxidation, chemical oxidation, electrophoretic deposition, or radio-frequency sputtering.

10. A method of using an electrochemical corrosion potential sensor in a reactor circuit, the method comprising:

coupling a reference electrode to a measurement electrode through a potentiometer, wherein the reference electrode comprises an electrical conductor, a metal-oxide coating layer disposed on the electrical conductor, and a zirconia-containing layer disposed on the metal-oxide layer and does not comprise a metal/metal oxide powder packing; and

disposing the reference electrode and the measurement electrode in reactor water.

11. The method of claim 10 , wherein the reference electrode is structured to have an operating life of at least one fuel cycle of a nuclear reactor.

12. The method of claim 10 , wherein the electrical conductor comprises nickel, iron, copper, titanium, silver, platinum, tungsten, tantalum, stainless steel, an alloy comprising at least one of the foregoing, or a combination comprising at least one of the foregoing.

13. The method of claim 10 , wherein the zirconia-containing layer comprises zirconia, magnesia stabilized zirconia, yttria stabilized zirconia, calcia stabilized zirconia, scandia stabilized zirconia, or a combination comprising at least one of the foregoing.

14. The method of claim 10 , wherein the zirconia-containing layer has a thickness of about 1 micrometer to about 3 millimeters.

15. The method of claim 10 , wherein the zirconia-containing layer is disposed on the metal-oxide layer by a process selected from the group comprising thermal spraying, wire arc, ion plasma cathodic arc deposition, laser ablation, chemical vapor deposition, physical vapor deposition, electroplating, electroless plating, electrochemical oxidation, chemical oxidation, electrophoretic deposition, radio-frequency sputtering, or a combination comprising at least one of the foregoing.

16. A measurement system comprising:

a reference electrode comprising an electrochemical corrosion potential sensor, wherein the electrochemical corrosion potential sensor comprises an electrical conductor comprising a metal, a metal-oxide coating layer comprising an oxide of the electrical conductor disposed on the electrical conductor, and a zirconia-containing layer disposed on the metal-oxide layer and does not comprise a metal/metal oxide powder packing;

a measurement electrode; and

a potentiometer in operative communication with the reference electrode and the measurement electrode.

17. The system of claim 16 , wherein the zirconia-containing has an operating lifetime of at least one fuel cycle of a nuclear reactor.