Potential Stability of All-Solid-State Ion-Selective Electrodes Using Conducting Polymers as Ion-to-Electron Transducers

Demanding analytical applications such as on-line process analysis and clinical analysis require robust, reliable, and maintenance-free ion sensors of high potential stability. In this work the stability of the electrode potential of all-solid-state ion-selective electrodes using conducting polymers as ion-to-electron transducers is critically evaluated by using chronopotentiometry and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy. This study is focused on the relationship between the potential stability of the electrode and the capacitance of the solid contact where ion-to-electron transduction takes place. The influence of this capacitance on the potential stability of all-solid-state ion-selective electrodes is studied experimentally by using conducting polymer layers of different thickness as solid contacts in potassium ion-selective electrodes based on a solvent polymeric membrane. Because of its excellent environmental stability, the conducting polymer poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene) (PEDOT) is used as a model compound for the solid contact material. Chronopotentiometry is found to be a convenient and fast experimental method to critically evaluate the potential stability of different types of ion-selective electrodes.