New membrane materials for potassium-selective ion-sensitive field-effect transistors

Several polymeric materials were studied as membrane materials for potassium-selective ion-sensitive field-effect transistors (ISFETs) to overcome the problems related with the use of conventional plasticized poly(vinyl chloride) membranes casted on ISFET gate surfaces. Several acrylate materials, such as ACE, Epocryl and derivatives, showed no reproducible results. Three room-temperature vulcanizing (RTV)-type silicone rubbers were tested. The addition-type RTV-2 silicone rubber was not suitable as a membrane material, but the condensation-type RTV-1 and especially the RTV-2 silicone rubber showed good results. ISFETs with a Silopren membrane showed a durability of at least 2 months.