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Surface-attached sensors for cation and anion recognition

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Abstract

The development of surface-attached sensors for cationic and anionic guests is of intense current research interest. In addition to the environmental flexibility, robustness and reusability of such devices, surface-confined sensors typically exhibit an amplified response to target analytes owing to preorganization of the receptor. Whereas redox-active cations may be sensed by studying the cyclic voltammetry of host–guest systems containing ion-selective receptors attached to an appropriate electrode, redox-inactive ionic species require the use of electrochemical impedance spectroscopy, with appropriately functionalized electrodes and redox probes. Alternatively, receptors may be constructed that incorporate an electrochemical or optical reporter group within their structure to provide a macroscopic response to the presence of an ionic guest. This critical review seeks to present an up-to-date, although necessarily selective, account of the progress in the field, and provides insights into possible future developments, including the utilization of receptor–nanoparticle conjugates and mechanically interlocked receptors.

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Abbreviations

EIS:

electrochemical impedance spectroscopy

Fc/Fc+ :

ferrocene/ferrocenium

Ppfc/Ppfc+ :

pentaphenylferrocene/pentaphenylferrocenium

R ct :

charge-transfer resistance

SAMs:

self-assembled monolayers

TTF:

tetrathiafulvalene

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Acknowledgements

We gratefully acknowledge the Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC) for funding of studentships for N.H.E. and H.R.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Inorganic Chemistry Laboratory, Department of Chemistry, University of Oxford, South Parks Road, Oxford, OX1 3QR, UK

    Nicholas H. Evans, Habibur Rahman, Jason J. Davis & Paul D. Beer

Authors
  1. Nicholas H. Evans
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  2. Habibur Rahman
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  3. Jason J. Davis
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  4. Paul D. Beer
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Corresponding authors

Correspondence to Jason J. Davis or Paul D. Beer.

Additional information

Published in the special issue Surface Architectures for Analytical Purposes with guest editors Luigia Sabbatini and Luisa Torsi.

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Evans, N.H., Rahman, H., Davis, J.J. et al. Surface-attached sensors for cation and anion recognition. Anal Bioanal Chem 402, 1739–1748 (2012). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00216-011-5403-7

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00216-011-5403-7

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