Sensor for detecting hydrogen ions in an aqueous solution
The present disclosure relates to a sensor for detecting hydrogen ions in an aqueous solution comprising a support, a reference electrode, a working electrode and a counter electrode supported by said support, the reference electrode being made of a material comprising silver and silver chloride, the counter electrode being made of a conductive material. The working electrode comprises a substrate and a layer made of an inherently electrically conductive polymer of the polythiophene or polyaniline (PANI) or polypyrrole class.
1. A sensor for detecting hydrogen ions in an aqueous solution comprising:
a support;
a reference electrode made of a material that includes silver and silver chloride and supported by the support;
a conductive counter electrode supported by said support; and,
a working electrode supported by the support and including a substrate and a layer made of an inherently electrically conductive polymer of the group consisting of polythiophene, polyaniline (PANT), and polypyrrole,
wherein the sensor is a solid-state pH sensor.
2. The sensor as claimed in claim 1 , wherein said inherently electrically conductive polymer is poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene) (PEDOT).
3. The sensor as claimed in claim 2 , wherein said layer made of said polymer (PEDOT) directly contacts said substrate.
4. The sensor as claimed in claim 1 , wherein said substrate of the working electrode is made of a conductive material comprising gold (Au) or indium-tin oxide (ITO).
5. The sensor as claimed in claim 1 , wherein said support is formed as a platform, and said reference electrode, said working electrode and said counter electrode are coplanarly arranged on said platform.
6. The sensor as claimed in claim 1 , wherein said support is formed as a platform, and said reference electrode, said working electrode and said counter electrode extend at angles from a face of said platform.
7. The sensor as claimed in claim 6 , wherein said electrodes are arranged perpendicular to the face of said platform.
8. The sensor as claimed in claim 1 , comprising an electrolytic solution and a CO 2 gas-selective membrane coupled to the support.
9. An apparatus for detecting hydrogen ions in an aqueous solution comprising:
a solid state pH sensor that includes:
a support;
a reference electrode made of a material that includes silver and silver chloride and supported by the support;
a conductive counter electrode supported by said support; and,
a working electrode supported by the support and including a substrate and a layer made of an inherently electrically conductive polymer of the group consisting of polythiophene, polyaniline (PAM), and polypyrrole;
a measuring circuit that includes a voltage source configured to apply a voltage between said working electrode and said counter electrode; and
an amperometric device configured to measure current flowing in said measuring circuit.
10. The apparatus as claimed in claim 9 , wherein said amperometric device comprises a current-to-resistance converter.
11. The apparatus as claimed in claim 9 , wherein said inherently electrically conductive polymer is poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene) (PEDOT).
12. The apparatus as claimed in claim 11 , wherein said layer made of said polymer (PEDOT) directly contacts said substrate.
13. The apparatus as claimed in claim 9 , wherein said substrate of the working electrode is made of a conductive material comprising gold (Au) or indium-tin oxide (ITO).
14. The apparatus as claimed in claim 9 , wherein said support is formed as a platform, and said reference electrode, said working electrode and said counter electrode are coplanarly arranged on said platform.
15. The apparatus as claimed in claim 9 , wherein said support is formed as a platform, and said reference electrode, said working electrode and said counter electrode extend at angles from a face of said platform.
16. The apparatus as claimed in claim 15 , wherein said electrodes are arranged perpendicular to the face of said platform.