Problems and prospects of solid contact ion-selective electrodes with ionophore-based membranes

The problems of stability and reproducibility of potentials of solid contact ion-selective electrodes with ionophore-based membranes were considered from the viewpoint of the existence of a sequence of equilibria providing the coupling of the ionic conductivity in the membrane and the electronic conductivity in the substrate. The both historical approaches to the stabilization of potentials of solid contact electrodes and the contemporary approaches based on the use of conducting polymers were briefly characterized. The role of water uptake by the membrane from the solution is also discussed.