Solid-contact ion-selective electrodes with improved limits of detection have been developed by using a two-step active layer manufacturing process. The first step incorporates ionophores into the bulk of the polymeric sensing layer, while the second step adsorbs ionophore molecules at the polymer/solution interface. The polymer surface modification resulted in improved Nernstian response, shorter equilibration times and a 1000-fold decrease in the limit of detection. The two-step manufacturing process produced sensitivity increases when measuring both positively charged and negatively charged ions. These results suggest that control of the polymer/ionophore interface could result in significant sensitivity increases for solid-contact ISEs operating over a wide variety of conditions.

1000-fold sensitivity increase on solid-contact ion-selective electrodes by controlling the ionophore/polymer interface

249th National Meeting (2015)

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