There is a dearth of base-stable
reference electrodes that are
suitable for use by students in a teaching laboratory or undergraduate
research context. To remedy this, we have developed a technique to
produce reference electrodes suitable for alkaline environments. By
utilizing components of a commercially available alkaline-type battery,
an engineered MnO2/MnO(OH) cathode that is both stable
and reproducible is readily obtained. The electrode potentials are
quite stable with respect to time and depend on the state of charge
of the battery used to make the electrode. The assembly and use of
such reference electrodes easily lends itself to introductory electrochemistry
lab experiments at a fraction of the cost of traditional electrodes.