For the first time the chloride ion concentration in electrolyte is measured using a Kelvin probe. A silversilver
chloride (Ag/AgCl) electrode, which is a chloride ion selective electrode, is used as a sample plate in
the electrolyte and the Kelvin probe is used as a reference plate thatis vibrating above the electrolyte. The
open-circuit potential (OCP) of the Ag/AgCl electrode is a function of the Cl− concentration. The contact
potential difference (CPD), measured by the Kelvin probe, gives the OCP of the Ag/AgCl electrode. The
measurement does not require any contact between the reference plate and the electrolyte. This approach
opens the possibilities for using a Kelvin probe as a contactless reference electrode in electrochemical
measurements, such as potentiometry.