Bifunctional potentiometric sensor based on MoO3 nanorods

A solid-phase film electrode with an ion-sensitive membrane based on MoO₃ nanorods was developed. Depending on the pH of test solution, the proposed electrode can be used as a sensor for measuring the concentration of hydrogen or alkali metal ions. In the range of 1 ≤ pH ≤ 5, the electrode reacts to changes in the concentration of hydrogen ions with an electrode response slope of 54 ± 2 mV/pH. The electrode is selec- tive to alkali metal cations in the concentration ranges of $0 \leqslant pc_{M^ + } \leqslant 4$ for M = Na, K, and Li and $1 \leqslant pc_{M^ + } \leqslant 5$ for M = Rb and Cs and the solution acidity 5 ≤ pH ≤ 13.5 with a nearly theoretical slope. The selectivity coefficients of the electrode to the ions of Na(I), Rb(I), Cs(I), Mg(II), Ca(II), Sr(II), and Ba(II) were determined.