A solid-contact Pb2+-selective electrode using poly(2-methoxy-5-(2′-ethylhexyloxy)-p-phenylene vinylene) as ion-to-electron transducer

In this work, a novel all-solid-state polymeric membrane Pb2+-selective electrode was developed by using for the first time poly(2-methoxy-5-(2′-ethylhexyloxy)-p-phenylene vinylene) (MEH-PPV) as solid contact. To demonstrate the ion-to-electron transducing ability of MEH-PPV, chronopotentiometry and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy measurements were carried out. The proposed electrodes showed a Nernstian response of 29.1 mV decade−1 and a lower detection limit of subnanomolar level. No water film was observed with the conventional plasticized PVC membrane. This work demonstrates a new strategy for the fabrication of robust potentiometric ion sensors.

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► All reagents used for the electrodes preparation were commercially available.
► The lower detection limit of the proposed electrode reached subnanomolar levels.
► No water film was observed with conventional commercially available PVC ion-sensing membranes.
► This research provides an excellent strategy for fabrication of robust polymeric ion sensors.