The liquid-state ion-sensitive electrode

Design Criteria for Nanostructured Carbon Materials as Solid Contacts for Ion-Selective Sensors

The ability to miniaturize ion-selective sensors that enable microsensor arrays and wearable sensor patches for ion detection in environmental or biological samples requires all-solid-state sensors with solid contacts for transduction of an ion activity into an electrical signal. Nanostructured carbon materials function as effective solid contacts for this purpose. They can also contribute to improved potential signal stability, reducing the need for frequent sensor calibration. In this Perspective, the structural features of various carbon-based solid contacts described in the literature and their respective abilities to reduce potential drift during long-term, continuous measurements are compared. These carbon materials include nanoporous carbons with various architectures, carbon nanotubes, carbon black, graphene, and graphite-based solid contacts. The effects of accessibility of ionophores, ionic sites, and other components of an ion-selective membrane to the internal or external carbon surfaces are discussed, because this impacts double-layer capacitance and potential drift. The effects of carbon composition on water-layer formation are also considered, which is another contributor to potential drift during long-term measurements. Recommendations regarding the selection of solid contacts and considerations for their characterization and testing in solid-contact ion-selective electrodes are provided.

Cobalt(II) ion-selective electrode with solid contact

A new all plastic sensor for Co2+ ions based on 2-amino-5 (hydroxynaphtyloazo-1′)-1,3,4 thiadiazole (ATIDAN) as ionophore was prepared. The electrode exhibits a low detection limit of 1.5 × 10−6 mol L−1 and almost theoretical Nernstian slope in the activity range 4.0 × 10−6–1 × 10−1 mol L−1 of cobalt ions. The response time of the sensor is less than 10 s and it can be used over a period of 6 months without any measurable divergence in potential. The proposed sensor shows a fairly good selectivity for Co(II) over other metal ions. The electrode was successfully applied for determination of Co2+ in real samples and as an indicator electrode in potentiometric titration of Co2+ ions with EDTA.

Mercury(II) ion-selective electrodes based on p-tert-butyl calix[4]crowns with imine units

A PVC membrane incorporating p-tert-butyl calix[4]crown with imine units as an ionophore was prepared and used in an ion-selective electrode for the determination of mercury(II) ions. An electrode based on this ionophore showed a good potentiometric response for mercury(II) ions over a wide concentration range of 5.0 x 10(-5) - 1.0 x 10(-1) M with a near-Nernstian slope of 27.3 mV per decade. The detection limit of the electrode was 2.24 x 10(-5) M and the electrode worked well in the pH range of 1.3 - 4.0. The electrode showed a short response time of less than 20 s. The electrode also showed better selectivity for mercury(II) ions over many of the alkali (Na+, -1.69; K+, -1.54), alkaline-earth (Ca2+, -3.30; Ba2+, -3.32), and heavy metal ions (Co2+, -3.67; Ni2+, -3.43; Pb2+, -3.31; Fe3+, -1.82). Ag+ ion was found to be the strongest interfering ion. Also, sharp end points were obtained when the sensor was used as an indicator electrode for the potentiometric titration of mercury(II) ions with iodide and dichromate ions.

A nitrate-selective electrode based on tris(2,2',2"-salicylideneimino)triethylamine

A new nitrate-selective liquid-membrane electrode based on the tris(2,2',2"-salicylideneimino)triethylamine-iron(III) complex has been developed. This electrode exhibits a linear Nernstian response over the range 10(-1)-10(-4) M of nitrate, with a slope of 54.3 +/- 0.9 mV per p[NO3]. The effects of the pH and the liquid-membrane composition were also investigated. The lifetime of the electrode is at least one month. The selectivity coefficients for ten monovalent ions were calculated. The preparation procedure of the electrode is very easy and inexpensive. Moreover, the proposed electrode was applied for the determination of nitrate in fertilizers.

Potentiometric responses of polymeric liquid membranes based on hydrophobic chelating agents to metal ions

The effect of hydrophobicity of acidic chelating agents as sensing materials on the potentiometric responses of polymeric liquid membranes was investigated. The chelating agents tested were 8-quinolinol (HOx), dithizone (HDz), 1-(2-pyridylazo)-2-naphthol (PAN) and their alkylated analogues, 5-octyloxymethyl-8-quinolinol (HO8Q), di(phexylphenyl)thiocarbazone (C6HDz), 7-pentadecyloxy-1-(2-pyridylazo)-2-naphthol (C15PAN) and a series of N-alkylcarbonyl-N-phenylhydroxylamines (CnPHA, n = 3, 6, 9, 12). The distribution coefficients between membrane solvent and water were determined to evaluate the hydrophobicity of the agents. The potential-pH profiles of the membranes containing hydrophobic chelating agents demonstrated the generation of potentiometric responses, while less hydrophobic agents gave no response. A possible model for the generation of membrane potential is proposed. The charge separation is attained by the permselective uptake of metal cations by the chelating agent anion at membrane/solution interface, where the high hydrophobicity of the agent enables the anionic or deprotonated form of the agents to remain at the membrane/solution interface.