Silver selective electrodes using ionophores functionalized with thioether‒amide‒amine

New poly(vinylchloride) (PVC) based liquid membrane sensors are reported containing neutral macrocyclic carrier as potential ionophores for sensing silver ions. Three macrocycles (L₁, L₂ and L₃) possessing two thioether, two amide and one secondary amine unit have been used in new PVC membrane-based sensor. At wide pH range of 4.5 to 8.0, these sensors exhibit linear responses in the concentration range of 1 × 10^–4 to 0.1 M and detection limit 6 × 10^–5 M for L₁ and 1 × 10^–4 M for L₂ and L₃ respectively with pseudo-Nernstian slopes between 43?46 mV/decade for all the three sensors. These sensors have short response time (<15 s) and long life time as these sensors do not show any considerable divergence in their performance over a period of four months. These sensors exhibit good selectivity for Ag⁺ over wide variety of interfering ions like alkali, alkaline earth, transition and some heavy metal ions. These proposed sensors could be used successfully as indicator electrodes in the potentiometric determination of Ag⁺ ions and also to determine anions like Cl^–, Br^–, I^–, S2^–, SCN^– and CN^–. Potentiometric titrations for halide ions in a mixture using these sensors and new titration method for the determination of detection limits are reported.     

Iridium Anodic Oxidation to Ir(III) and Ir(IV) Hydrous Oxides

Iridium oxide films (IROFs) are known to have an enhanced or the so‐called super‐Nernstian (<59 mV/pH) pH‐sensitivity. The intention in the present study was to find out the reasons of such behavior and also to elucidate the nature of iridium anodic oxidation processes. The methods employed were combined cyclic voltammetry and chronopotentiometry. Iridium layers of 0.1 to 0.2 μm thickness, deposited thermally on titanium or gold‐plated titanium substrates, were used for investigations. IROFs on the surface of working electrodes were formed anodically by applying a constant potential in deaerated and oxygen‐containing solutions of 0.5 M H₂SO₄, 0.1 M KOH and 0.5 M H₃PO₄+KOH. Linear pH‐dependences of the stationary open‐circuit potential with the slopes close to 59 mV/pH were found for iridium electrode oxidized at 0.4 V–0.8 V (RHE) in deaerated and at 0.8 V–1.2 V (RHE) in O₂‐containing solutions. They were attributed to reversible Ir/Ir(OH)₃ and Ir/ IrO₂?nH₂O metal‐oxide electrodes, respectively. It has been suggested that the main current peaks seen in the voltammograms of iridium electrode in acid and alkaline solutions are of different nature. The difference between iridium electrode surface states in acid and alkaline solutions has been presumed to be the main reason of super‐Nernstian pH‐sensitivity of the IROFs. On the basis of the results obtained standard potential of Ir/Ir(OH)₃ electrode and the solubility product of Ir(OH)₃ have been evaluated: =0.78±0.02 V and K_sp=3.3×10^?64.     

Enhancement of thin film tin oxide negative electrodes for lithium batteries

Thin films of pure SnO₂, of the Sn/Li₂O layered structure, and of Sn/Li₂O were fabricated by sputtering method, while a `lithium-reacted tin oxide thin film' was assembled by the evaporation of lithium metal onto a SnO₂ thin film. Film structure and charge/discharge characteristics were compared. The lithium-reacted tin oxide thin film, the Sn/Li₂O layered structure, and the Sn/Li₂O co-sputtered thin films did not show any irreversible side reactions of forming Li₂O and metallic Sn near 0.8 V vs Li/Li⁺. The initial charge retention of the Sn/Li₂O layered structure and Sn/Li₂O co-sputtered thin films was about 50% and a similar value was found for the lithium-reacted tin oxide thin film (more than 60%). Sn/Li₂O layered structure and Sn/Li₂O co-sputtered thin films showed better cycling behavior over 500 cycles than the pure SnO₂ and lithium-reacted tin oxide thin film in the cut-off range from 1.2 to 0 V vs Li/Li⁺.     

DDB liver drug as a novel ionophore for potentiometric barium (II) membrane sensor

Dimethyl-4,4-dimethoxy-5,6,5′,6′-dimethylene dioxy biphenyl-2,2-dicarboxylate (DDB) liver drug is used as a novel ionophore in plasticized poly (vinyl chloride) (PVC) matrix membrane sensors for barium ions. Optimum performance characteristics are displayed by membrane sensor incorporating DDB ionophore, potassium tetrakis(4-chlorophenyl)borate as lipophilic salt, and o-nitrophenyloctyl ether as plasticizer. The sensor exhibits a linear response over the concentration range 10⁻¹-10⁻⁵ mol l⁻¹ BaCl₂ with a Nernstian slope of 30 mV per decade and high selectivity towards Ba²⁺ with respect to Li⁺, Na⁺, K⁺, Rb⁺, NH₄⁺, Mg²⁺, Ca²⁺, Sr²⁺, Mn²⁺, Co²⁺, Ni²⁺, Cd²⁺, Al³⁺, La³⁺, and Ce³⁺ ions. The sensor response is stable over a wide pH range (4-9) and the lifetime is about 2 months. The proposed sensor is successfully applied to the determination of Ba²⁺contents of some rocks.     

pH-sensing properties of PbO<Subscript>2</Subscript> thin film electrodeposited on carbon ceramic electrode

In this paper, a new highly sensitive potentiometric pH electrode is proposed based on the solid-state PbO₂ film electrodeposited on carbon ceramic electrode (CCE). Two different crystal structures of PbO₂, α and β were examined and the similar results were obtained. Moreover, the experimental results obtained for the proposed pH sensor and a conventional glass pH electrode were in good agreement. The electromotive force (emf) signal between the pH-sensitive PbO₂-coated CCE and SCE reference electrode was linear over the pH range of 1.5–12.5. Near-Nernstian slopes of −64.82 and −57.85 mV/pH unit were obtained for α- and β-PbO₂ electrodes, respectively. The interferences of some mono-valence and multi-valence ions on potentiometric response of the sensor were studied. The proposed pH sensor displayed high ion selectivity with respect to K⁺, Na⁺, Ca²⁺, and Li⁺, with log values around −12 and has a working lifetime of about 30 days. Key parameters important for the pH sensor performance, including kind of PbO₂ film, selectivity, response time, stability, and reproducibility, have been characterized. The proposed electrode showed a good efficiency for direct pH-metry after calibration and pH-metric titrations without calibration step. The response time was about 1 s in acidic medium and less than 30 s in alkaline solutions. The pH values of complex matrix samples such as fruit juices measured by the proposed sensor and a conventional glass pH electrode were in good agreement.     

Monolayer Assembly of Pyrene on Glass Plate Surface and Its Selective Sensing Performances to Organic Copper (II) Salts

A novel fluorescent sensing film was developed by covalently attaching pyrene moieties onto a glass plate surface via triethylenetetramine in a self-assembled monolayer manner. Fluorescence measurements demonstrated that the emission of the film could be quenched by organic copper (II) salts, including copper acetate, copper tartrate, and copper citrate, with high selectivity and sensitivity, and the response of the film to Cu(Ac)₂ is fully reversible. In contrast, the presence of inorganic copper salts, such as Cu(NO₃)₂, CuSO₄, and CuCl₂, showed lower quenching efficiency. The sensing performance of the film to Cu(Ac)₂ is slightly influenced by other divalent metal acetates, including Zn(Ac)₂,Pb(Ac)₂, Co(Ac)₂,andNi(Ac)₂.Furthermore,thequenchingof Cu(Ac)₂ to the emission of the film is static in nature.     

Solid-state pH nanoelectrode based on polyaniline thin film electrodeposited onto ion-beam etched carbon fiber

An ultramicro pH sensor has been constructed based on a thin polyaniline film that was electrochemically deposited onto a carbon fiber nanometer-size electrode. The substrate nanoelectrodes were fabricated using ion-beam conically etched carbon fibers with tip diameters ranging ca. from 100 to 500 nm. The polyaniline film was deposited from HCl solution containing the aniline monomer by cycling the potential between −0.2 and +1.0 V. The electromotive force (emf) signal between the pH sensitive polyaniline-coated nanoelectrode and an Ag/AgCl reference electrode was linear over the pH range of 2.0-12.5 with a slightly super-Nernstian slope of ca. −60 mV/pH unit. Response times ranged from several sec at pHs around 7 up to 2 min at pH 12.5. The proposed pH nanoelectrode displayed high ion selectivity with respect to K⁺, Na⁺, Ca²⁺, and Li⁺, with log K_H,M values around −12 and has a working lifetime of about 20 days. Key parameters important for the pH nanoelectrode performance, including polyaniline film preparation, selectivity, response time, temperature dependence, relative coating thickness, stability, and reproducibility, have been characterized and optimized. The performance of the pH nanoelectrode was examined by measuring the pH of several real samples including body fluids (serum, urine) and low ionic strength water samples (rain, deionized and tap water). The results agreed very well with those obtained by using commercial glass pH electrodes. The proposed pH nanoelectrode demonstrated attractive properties and seems particularly promising for use under physiological conditions.     

Ion-selective sensors based on molybdenum bronzes

New pH- and sodium ion-sensitive metal-oxide-type sensors have been developed and tested with a direct solid state contact method. Performance was demonstrated at ambient temperature with single crystals of several molybdenum bronzes (i.e. Na_0.9Mo₆O₁₇, Li_0.9Mo₆O₁₇, Li_0.33MoO₃ and K_0.3MoO₃). The pH sensors with Na-molybdenum-oxide bronzes show near ideal Nernstian behavior in the pH range 3–9. The response is not affected by the direction of the pH change. The response time of most molybdenum bronze pH sensors is less than 5 s for 90% response. The sodium molybdenum bronze sensor responded reproducibly and fast to changes of Na⁺ concentration in the range 1–10^–4 mol dm^–3. Cross sensitivity tests to other ions such as H⁺ or K⁺ have shown that the new sodium ion sensor may be used when the concentration of other ions is an order of magnitude smaller than the Na⁺ concentration. pH sensors with single crystals of molybdenum oxide bronzes can be used to follow pH titrations. Electronic Publication     

Needle-like IrO/Ag combined pH microelectrode

In this study, a combined pH microelectrode has been developed consisting of an indicator electrode made of IrO₂ prepared using the polymeric precursor method and deposited in a platinum microwire. This electrode was mounted inside a stainless steel needle, the external surface of which was painted with conductive silver ink which is used as reference electrode. This device was compared with a conventional glass electrode, and the results presented linear behavior in the pH range from 2.0 to 12.5, in Na⁺ and K⁺ solutions, exceeding glass electrodes in the alkaline range. The sensitivity was 56.9 ± 0.2 mV pH^? 1 and using ANOVA test we conclude that the electrode is not sensitive to the presence of alkaline cations such as Li⁺, Na⁺ or K⁺. Finally, the response time (t₉₅) was 4.9 to 9.0 s depending on the solution pH. The combined pH microelectrode can be used several times and, after three years, continues to have a response similar to that of a freshly produced one.     

Borazon-gate pH-sensitive field effect transistor

A borazon-gate ISFET is used as a pH sensor. Boron nitride was deposited by the reactive-pulse plasma method and electron diffraction served for membrane identification. The borazon-gate sensors responded linearly to pH in the range 1.8–10; the slope was about 52 mV pH^?1. Selectivity for H⁺ ions over K⁺, Na⁺ or Ca²⁺ ions was better than that of silicon nitride-gate ISFETs.     

Separation of niobium and tantalum with cupferron

An attempt to separate niobium and tantalum by cupfcrron was only moderately successful at pH 4.5 to 5.5 in the presence of a magnesia mixture as a coagulating agent. A more satisfactory separation of niobium and tantalum from each other, tried out up to ratios of 30:1 and 1.30, is effected with Sn⁺² or Sn⁺⁴ as a co-precipitating agent under the conditions described niobium can be separated, in the presence of complexone III, from almost all the ions except U, Be, Ti and PO₄^-3. Iron and other tervalent elements, when present in 100 fold excess with respect to niobium, require double precipitation The method gives highly satisfactory results when applied to the analysis of niobium in niobium-molybdenum stainless steel.The use of titanium as a co-precipitant is less successful than that of tin     

Calix[2]furano[2]pyrrole and related compounds as the neutral carrier in silver ion-selective electrode

The performance of calix[2]furano[2]pyrrole and related compounds used as neutral carriers for silver selective polymeric membrane electrode was investigated. The silver ion-selective electrode based on calix[2]furano[2]pyrroles gave a good Nernstian response of 57.1 mV per decade for silver ion in the activity range 1×10⁻⁶ to 1×10⁻² M. The present silver ion-selective electrode displayed very good selectivity for Ag⁺ ion against alkali and alkaline earth metal ions, NH₄⁺, and H⁺. In particular, the present Ag⁺-selective electrode exhibited very low responses towards Hg²⁺ and Pb²⁺ ions. The potentiometric selectivity coefficients of the silver ion-selective electrode exhibited a strong dependence on the solution pH. In particular, the response of the electrode to the Hg²⁺ activity was greatly diminished at pH 2.5 compared to that at pH 5.0. Overall, the performance of the present silver ion-selective electrode based on the ionophore, calix[2]furano[2]pyrrole, is very comparable to that of the electrode prepared with the commercially available neutral carrier in terms of slope, linear range, and detection limits.     

Electrocatalytic Nitrite Reduction to Nitrogen Oxide by a Synthetic Analogue of the Active Site of Cu‐Containing Nitrite Reductase Incorporated in Nafion Film

The electrocatalytic reduction of nitrite to NO by [CuMe₂bpa(H₂O)(ClO₄)]⁺ ( 1 ), which is a model for the active site of copper‐containing nitrite reductase, incorporated in Nafion film was investigated. The Cu complex in the Nafion matrix exhibits an intense band at 267 nm and a broad band around 680 nm, assigned to d–d and ligand field transitions, respectively. The 77‐K EPR spectrum of 1 in the Nafion matrix reveals the typical axial signals (g_//=2.28, g =2.08, A_//=13.3 mT) of a tetragonal Cu²⁺ chromophore. The redox potential, which is related to the Cu⁺/Cu²⁺ couple, was ?146 mV (ΔE=72 mV) at pH 5.5. The redox reaction of 1 in Nafion was not dependent on pH and was a diffusion‐controlled process. The electronic structure and redox properties of 1 in the negatively charged polymer matrix were almost the same as those in aqueous solution. In the presence of nitrite, an increase in the cathodic current was observed in the cyclic voltammogram of 1 in the Nafion matrix. The current increase was dependent on the nitrite concentration and pH in solution. Upon reaching ?400 mV, a linear generation of NO was observed for the 1 /Nafion film coated electrode. The relationship between the rate of NO generation and the nitrite concentration in solution was analyzed with the Michaelis–Menten equation, where V_max=45.1 nM s^?1 and K_m=15.8 mM at pH 5.5. The Cu complex serves the function of both the catalyst and electron transport in the Nafion matrix. The sensitivity of the electrode was estimated to be 3.23 μA mM^?1 in the range of 0.1–0.4 mM nitrite.     

Copper oxide on Cu/Al2O3-TiO2 catalystsTG,FTIR-CO absorption and catalytic activity in the NO reduction by CO

TG, FTIR-(CO absorption), and catalytic activity in the NO reduction by CO were used to characterize Cu/Al₂O₃-TiO₂ catalysts prepared by co-gelling aluminum tri-sec-butoxide and titanium iso-propoxide at pH 9 and at pH 3 gelling conditions. Under nitrogen flow, copper oxide decomposition, oxygen storage capacity (OSC) and sample dehydroxylation (total mass loss) was followed by TG. The CuO decomposition forming Cu⁰, Cu⁺¹ was observed by means of FTIR (CO absorption) spectra. In pH 9 sample the large amount of Cu⁰ was observed. At low total mass loss and high Cu⁰/Cu⁺¹+Cu⁺² ratio (pH 9 sample) a lowest light-off in the NO reduction by CO was observed. This revised version was published online in July 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

Ionophores in Rubidium Ion‐Selective Membrane Electrodes

Binaphthyl‐based crown ethers incorporating anthraquinone, benzoquinone, and 1,4‐dimethoxybezene have been synthesized and tested for Rb⁺ selective ionophores in the poly(vinyl chloride) (PVC) membrane. The membrane containing NPOE gave a better Rb⁺ selectivity than those containing either DOA or BPPA as a plasticizer. The response was linear within the concentration range of 1.0×10^?5–1.0×10^?1 M and the slope was 54.7±0.5 mV/dec. The detection limit was determined to be 9.0×10^?6 M and the optimum pH range of the membrane was 6.0–9.0. The ISE membrane exhibits good selectivity for Rb⁺ over ammonium, alkali metal, and alkaline earth metal ions. Selectivity coefficients for the other metal ions, log K^Pot were ?2.5 for Li⁺, ?2.4 for Na⁺, ?2.0 for H⁺, ?1.0 for K⁺, ?1.2 for Cs⁺, ?1.6 for NH₄⁺, ?4.5 for Mg²⁺, ?5.0 for Ca²⁺,?4.9 for Ba²⁺. The lifetime of the membrane was about one month.     

Formation characteristics of calcium phosphate deposits on a metal surface by H2O2-electrolysis reaction under various conditions

The cathodic electrolysis of H₂O₂ (H₂O₂ + e⁻ → OH⁻ + OH) on a metal surface in the presence of calcium and phosphate ions results in the formation of calcium phosphate deposits on the metal surface. In this study, the deposits formed under various treatment conditions (pHs, concentrations and ratios of calcium/phosphate ions, and so on) were characterized by scanning electron spectroscopy (SEM), and X-ray diffractometry. The exclusive formation of hydroxyapatite, HAP, was observed under comparatively narrow conditions (pH 3–4, [Ca+]/[PO₄³⁻] = 25 mM/15 mM), which is clearly different from the reported conditions for the deposition of HAP on titanium substrates. HAP was deposited in the form of a layer, comprised of morphologically amorphous HAP flakes that were less than 20 nm thick. SEM and FTIR analyses of the deposit at different stages of H₂O₂-electrolysis revealed that a few dozen nanometer-sized spheres of amorphous calcium phosphate were formed in the first step and then fused with each other to form ribbon-like flakes of HAP or broken glass-like brushite, depending on the pH. The pH for HAP formation on a stainless steel surface was markedly lower than that used for titanium, and the observed process by which amorphous calcium phosphate is converted to HAP was markedly different from that for the electrochemical deposition (electrolysis of water) of HAP on a titanium substrate.     

Application of sol–gel TiO2 film for an extended-gate H+ ion-sensitive field-effect transistor

In this study, a sol–gel TiO₂ thin film has been spin-coated on a commercial ITO glass substrate as the extended-gate field effect transistor (EGFET) for hydrogen ion sensing. The as-deposited films are further annealed at various temperatures (T_a) under ambient atmosphere. It is found that the bi-layer structure of TiO₂/ITO EGFET exhibits good linear sensitivity from pH 1 to 11. Anatase TiO₂ appeared as early as T_a = 200 °C and a brookite (121) diffraction evolved at T_a = 500 °C. No prominent influence on the surface fine structures could be found at higher T_a. Due to the reduction or disappearance of the surface hydroxyl groups on TiO₂, the sensitivities of the TiO₂/ITO pH-EGFET device are rapidly reduced. However, the influence of the conductivity decay for ITO substrates annealed at high T_a could not be excluded. A maximum sensitivity 61.44 mV/pH is achieved as T_a = 300 °C.The bi-layer structure of TiO₂/ITO exhibits better long-term stability than the traditional ITO sensing membranes. In addition, the asymmetric hysteresis is more significant in alkaline buffer solutions, which could be explained by a site-binding model because the diffusion of H⁺ ions into the buried sites of the sensing film is more rapid than that of OH⁻ ions.     

Assessment of Potassium Zinc Ferrocyanide as an Alkali-Metal Ion-Exchanger in Ion-Selective Electrodes

Abstract

Silicone rubber membranes containing potassium zinc ferrocyanide have been assessed as ion-selective electrode sensors for the determination of alkali metal ions. The slope of the calibration graph for potassium ion is 59 mV per decade change in concentration within the concentration range 5 × 10^?4 to 10^?1 M at 25°C. Selectivity constants (K_K + _/M+)are 9. 5, Cs⁺; 3. 3, Rb⁺; 0. 025, Na⁺; 0. 003, Li⁺; and 1.8, NH₄ ⁺, calculated from potential data obtained at 10^?1 M concentrations of each ion separately. Similar membranes prepared from PVC responded similarly with a slight improvement in selectivity.     

In-Situ Constructing A Heterogeneous Layer on Lithium Metal Anodes for Dendrite-Free Lithium Deposition and High Li-ion Flux

Constructing efficient artificial solid electrolyte interface (SEI) film is extremely vital for the practical application of lithium metal batteries. Herein, a dense artificial SEI film, in which lithiophilic Zn/Li_xZn_y are uniformly but nonconsecutively dispersed in the consecutive Li⁺-conductors of Li_xSiO_y, Li₂O and LiOH, is constructed via the in situ reaction of layered zinc silicate nanosheets and Li. The consecutive Li⁺-conductors can promote the desolvation process of solvated-Li⁺ and regulate the transfer of lithium ions. The nonconsecutive lithiophilic metals are polarized by the internal electric field to boost the transfer of lithium ions, and lower the nucleation barrier. Therefore, a low polarization of ≈50 mV for 750 h at 2.0 mA cm⁻² in symmetric cells, and a high capacity retention of 99.2 % in full cells with a high lithium iron phosphate areal loading of ≈13 mg cm⁻² are achieved. This work offers new sights to develop advanced alkali metal anodes for efficient energy storage.     

X-ray photoelectron spectroscopic and electrochemical impedance spectroscopic analysis of RuO2-Ta2O5 thick film pH sensors

The paper reports on investigation of the pH sensing mechanism of thick film RuO₂-Ta₂O₅ sensors by using X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS). Interdigitated conductimetric pH sensors were screen printed on alumina substrates. The microstructure and elemental composition of the films were examined by scanning electron microscopy and energy dispersive spectroscopy. The XPS studies revealed the presence of Ru ions at different oxidation states and the surface hydroxylation of the sensing layer increasing with increasing pH. The EIS analysis carried out in the frequency range 10 Hz–2 MHz showed that the electrical parameters of the sensitive electrodes in the low frequency range were distinctly dependent on pH. The charge transfer and ionic exchange occurring at metal oxide-solution interface were indicated as processes responsible for the sensing mechanism of thick film RuO₂-Ta₂O₅ pH sensors.