On the Electrochemical Approach to Solid-State Ion Selective Membrane Preparation

Abstract

The classical approach to the preparation of solid-state membrane electrodes is restricted to a limited number of sensing materials which allow formation of compact membrane discs mainly by pressing. For materials of poor plasticity the technology is further complicated by the introduction of additional procedures like hot pressing, sintering, cutting of the membrane discs from melts or sometimes even growing of monocrystal membranes. When membranes prepared according to the above technology are used in flow systems or applied in microconstructions, other limitations of this approach become evident, too. The search for new techniques of membrane preparation is also important from a theoretical point of view. The basic potential generating processes are known to take place at the membrane/solution interface, hence the way of building up the membrane surface proved to be decisive for revealing fully the abilities of a particular sensitive material. The aim of the present report is to outline the possibilities offered by the electrochemical approach to the preparation of solid-state chalcogenide membranes and its role in the elucidation of their response mechanism. Copper ion-selective electrodes (ISE) are used as an example.