Poly(aniline boronic acid) polymers and methods of use
The present invention includes sensors and systems that include a sensor. A sensor includes a sensor polymer, where the polymer includes a repeating unit having an anilineboronic acid-phosphate complex or an anilineboronic acid complexed with an alcohol or diol. The sensor polymer may be a copolymer, such as a random copolymer, a block copolymer, or an alternate copolymer. The present invention also provides methods for using the sensors described herein, including methods for detecting the presence of an analyte, such as CO 2 , in a fluid.
1. A method for detecting the presence of an analyte in a fluid, comprising:
providing a sensor comprising an electrode and a polymer comprising an anilineboronic acid-phosphate complex adjacent to the electrode, wherein the sensor polymer will change an electrical characteristic in the presence of the analyte in the fluid;
exposing the sensor to a fluid containing the analyte; and
detecting a response to the exposure of the sensor to the analyte present in the fluid.
2. The method of claim 1 wherein the anilineboronic acid-phosphate complex comprises a repeating unit having the formula
3. The method of claim 2 wherein the anilineboronic acid-phosphate complex is a copolymer, wherein the copolymer further comprises a repeating unit having a formula selected from
wherein X is fluoride or an amine.
4. The method of claim 3 wherein the copolymer is a random copolymer, a block copolymer, or an alternate copolymer.
5. The method of claim 1 wherein the anilineboronic acid-phosphate complex has the formula
6. The method of claim 1 wherein the electrical characteristic is resistance.
7. The method of claim 1 wherein the sensor further comprises an electrolyte layer adjacent to the sensor polymer such that the sensor polymer is between the electrode and the electrolyte layer, and further comprises a selective layer adjacent to the electrolyte layer such that the electrolyte layer is between the sensor polymer and the selective layer.
8. The method of claim 1 wherein the analyte is CO 2 and wherein the selective layer is polytetrafluoroethylene.
9. The method of claim 1 wherein the change in the electrical characteristic in response to CO 2 is linear up to 2750 parts per million (ppm) CO 2 .
10. The method of claim 1 wherein the fluid is a gas.
11. The method of claim 1 wherein the fluid is a liquid.
12. The method of claim 1 wherein the sensor is present in a body of grain or other bulk-stored commodity.
13. A system for detecting an analyte in a fluid, wherein the system comprises:
a sensor comprising an electrode and a polymer comprising an anilineboronic acid-phosphate complex adjacent to the electrode, wherein the sensor polymer will change an electrical characteristic in the presence of the analyte in the fluid; and
an analysis component configured to detect a change in the electrical characteristic of the polymer.
14. The sensor of claim 13 wherein the anilineboronic acid-phosphate complex comprises a repeating unit having the formula
15. The sensor of claim 14 wherein the anilineboronic acid-phosphate complex is a copolymer, wherein the copolymer further comprises a repeating unit having a formula selected from
wherein X is fluoride or an amine.
16. The sensor of claim 15 wherein the copolymer is a random copolymer, a block copolymer, or an alternate copolymer.
17. The sensor of claim 13 wherein the anilineboronic acid-phosphate complex has the formula
where m and n are each independently an integer greater than 2.
18. The system of claim 13 wherein the electrical characteristic is resistance.
19. The system of claim 13 wherein the sensor further comprises an electrolyte layer adjacent to the sensor polymer such that the sensor polymer is between the electrode and the electrolyte layer, and further comprises a selective layer adjacent to the electrolyte layer such that the electrolyte layer is between the sensor polymer and the selective layer.
20. The system of claim 19 wherein the analyte is CO 2 and wherein the selective layer is polytetrafluoroethylene.
21. The system of claim 20 wherein the change in the electrical characteristic in response to CO 2 is linear up to 2750 parts per million (ppm) CO 2 .
22. The system of claim 13 wherein the fluid is a gas.
23. The system of claim 13 wherein the fluid is a liquid.
24. A sensor comprising:
an electrode; and
a sensor polymer comprising a polymer comprising an anilineboronic acid-phosphate complex adjacent to the electrode.
25. The sensor of claim 24 wherein the anilineboronic acid-phosphate complex comprises a repeating unit having the formula
26. The sensor of claim 25 wherein the anilineboronic acid-phosphate complex is a copolymer, wherein the copolymer further comprises a repeating unit having a formula selected from
wherein X is fluoride or an amine.
27. The sensor of claim 26 wherein the copolymer is a random copolymer, a block copolymer, or an alternate copolymer.
28. The sensor of claim 24 wherein the anilineboronic acid-phosphate complex has the formula
where m and n are each independently an integer greater than 2.
29. The sensor of claim 24 wherein the sensor further comprises an electrolyte layer adjacent to the sensor polymer such that the sensor polymer is between the electrode and the electrolyte layer.
30. The sensor of claim 29 wherein the electrolyte layer is electrically coupled to the sensor polymer.
31. The sensor of claim 29 wherein the electrolyte layer comprises a sulfonated tetrafluoroethylene based fluoropolymer-copolymer, poly(vinyl alcohol), or ionic liquid.
32. The sensor of claim 24 wherein the sensor further comprises a selective layer adjacent to the sensor polymer such that the sensor polymer is between the electrode and the selective layer.
33. The sensor of claim 32 wherein the sensor further comprises an electrolyte layer adjacent to the sensor polymer such that the electrolyte layer is between the sensor polymer and the selective layer.
34. The sensor of claim 24 wherein the sensor further comprises an analysis component electrically coupled to the electrode.