Issue 25, 2015

A paper based, all organic, reference-electrode-free ion sensing platform

Abstract

We present a reference-electrode free, all organic K+ sensitive ion sensing platform fabricated by simplest means on a plain sheet of paper. This platform is based on two identical ion selective electrodes (ISEs) which are assembled by bonding a polymeric ion selective membrane (ISM) directly onto a drop-casted PEDOT:PSS electrode. Taking full advantage of the so called pulsetrode concept, a current pulse is used to measure the concentration of the targeted ion. The current forces an ion flux out of the first ISE, through the sample and into the second ISE. This flux leads to a well-defined potential jump at the second ISE, as soon as the target ion locally depletes within the analyte, whereas the current induced potential change at the first ISE does not depend noticeably on the type of background electrolyte. Hence, the potential difference between the ISEs, required to apply the current is directly related to the ion concentration within the sample. This concept allows for a 20-fold sensitivity enhancement compared to classical potentiometric measurements in physiological backgrounds. As mutual potential drifts of the ISEs cancel out, the sensor response showed excellent stability and did not change during multiple measurements over three months.

Graphical abstract: A paper based, all organic, reference-electrode-free ion sensing platform

Supplementary files

Article information

Article type
Paper
Submitted
27 Feb 2015
Accepted
11 May 2015
First published
11 May 2015

J. Mater. Chem. B, 2015,3, 5095-5102

Author version available

A paper based, all organic, reference-electrode-free ion sensing platform

J. Kofler, S. Nau and E. J. W. List-Kratochvil, J. Mater. Chem. B, 2015, 3, 5095 DOI: 10.1039/C5TB00387C

To request permission to reproduce material from this article, please go to the Copyright Clearance Center request page.

If you are an author contributing to an RSC publication, you do not need to request permission provided correct acknowledgement is given.

If you are the author of this article, you do not need to request permission to reproduce figures and diagrams provided correct acknowledgement is given. If you want to reproduce the whole article in a third-party publication (excluding your thesis/dissertation for which permission is not required) please go to the Copyright Clearance Center request page.

Read more about how to correctly acknowledge RSC content.

Social activity

Spotlight

Advertisements