Single-Step Integration of Poly(3-Octylthiophene) and Single-Walled Carbon Nanotubes for Highly Reproducible Paper-Based Ion-Selective Electrodes

Anal Chem. 2021 Jan 26;93(3):1271-1276. doi: 10.1021/acs.analchem.0c04506. Epub 2020 Dec 29.

Abstract

Calibration of ion-selective electrodes (ISEs) is cumbersome, time-consuming, and constitutes a significant limitation for the development of single-use and wearable disposable sensors. To address this problem, we have studied the effect of ion-selective membrane solvent on ISE reproducibility by comparing tetrahydrofuran (THF) (a typical solvent for membrane preparation) and cyclohexanone. In addition, a single-step integration of semiconducting/transducer polymer poly(3-octylthiophene) (POT) with single-walled carbon nanotubes (SWCNTs) into the paper-based ISEs (PBISEs) substrate was introduced. PBISEs for potassium and sodium ions were developed, and these ISEs present outstanding sensor performance and high potential reproducibility, as low as ±1.0 mV (n = 3).

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't