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Model improvement for super-Nernstian pH sensors: the effect of surface hydration

  • Polymers & biopolymers
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Abstract

The maximum sensitivity of pH sensors is given by the Nernst equation, and its theoretical value is 59.2 mV pH−1. However, countless sensors developed and reported in the literature have their sensitivity higher than the Nernstian limit. These are called super-Nernstian sensors. To understand the causes of this behavior, the sensitivity of polyaniline thin films was studied by evaluation of an important parameter: the hydration of the film’s surface. Sensitivities were measured before and after varied heat treatments, and the sensor's parameters were associated with the amount of water lost in the process. Polyaniline thin films were fabricated by galvanostatic electrodeposition in aqueous solution, and their sensitivity was measured before and after heating of the samples. An endothermic process, typical of evaporation, was revealed by the analysis of mass loss during the heating process. A decrease in the sensitivity of the films was observed after heating process. For comparison, polyaniline thin films were also fabricated by spin coating, in the absence of water, and their sensitivity proved to be smaller than for the galvanostatically fabricated ones and it did not change significantly after the heating processes. The results indicated that the Nernst model can be adjusted using a parameter (\(1/r\)) related to the hydration of the surface of the sample, which directly affects the sensitivity of the thin films. The lowest reachable \(1/r\) value for samples containing no water is approximately 0.9. The parameter also describes the upper limits for the sensitivity of super-Nernstian sensors.

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Data availability

The data that support the findings of this study are available from the corresponding author upon reasonable request.

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Acknowledgements

This work was funded by Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES), Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP, 2018/24395-8, 2018/22223-5, 2017/24201-6 and 2014/24559-0) and Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq, 305380/2015-0) Brazilian agencies.

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Author notes

  1. Hugo José N. P. Dias Mello

    Present address: Institute of Chemistry, São Paulo State University (UNESP), Araraquara, SP, 14800-900, Brazil

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Physics, Faculty of Philosophy, Sciences and Letters at Ribeirão Preto, University of Sao Paulo – USP, Ribeirão Prêto, SP, 14040-901, Brazil

    Gustavo Daniel M. Madeira, Hugo José N. P. Dias Mello, Murilo C. Faleiros & Marcelo Mulato

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  1. Gustavo Daniel M. Madeira
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Contributions

GDMM helped in conceptualization, methodology, validation, investigation, writing—original draft, visualization; HJNPDM contributed to conceptualization, investigation, supervision, writing—original draft, visualization; MCF helped in methodology, investigation; MM contributed to supervision, writing—review and editing.

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Correspondence to Hugo José N. P. Dias Mello.

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The authors wish to confirm that there are no known conflicts of interest associated with this publication and there has been no significant financial support for this work that could have influenced its outcome. We also confirm that the manuscript has been read and approved by all named authors.

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Handling Editor: Yaroslava Yingling.

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Madeira, G.D.M., N. P. Dias Mello, H.J., Faleiros, M.C. et al. Model improvement for super-Nernstian pH sensors: the effect of surface hydration. J Mater Sci 56, 2738–2747 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10853-020-05412-w

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