Carbon Nanofibers As Transducer Layers in Potentiometric Sensors

Many reports on application of nanostructured materials for potentiometric sensing purposes point out advantages of carbon nanostructures [1,2].  In this case, for the first time, carbon nanofibers (CNFs) were used as ion-electron transducers. Stable suspensions of CNFs in water or organic solvent (inks) were prepared. Potassium selective electrodes with CNFs solid contact and plasticized poly(vinyl chloride) or polyacrylate based membranes  were prepared based on different carbon nanofibers ink. The effect of CNFs dispersion stabilizing agent used on the performance of resulting all-solid state potassium selective electrodes was evaluated. Analytical parameters of sensors, prepared using carbon nanofibers  (as an effective transducer layer in ion-selective electrodes) are similar to those of all-solid-state sensors based on conducting polymers.

REFERENCES

1. G. A. Crespo, S. Macho, F. X Rius, Anal. Chem. 2008, 80. 1316-1322.

2. F. X. Rius - Ruiz, G. A. Crespo, D. Bejarano - Nosas, P. Blondeau, J. Riu, F. X. Rius, Anal. Chem. 2011, 83, 8810-8815.