ELECTRODES SELECTIVE FOR SOLID-CONTACT IONS BASED ON CARBON NANOTUBES

• US 20100193376A1
• Filed: 05/27/2008
• Published: 08/05/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 05/29/2007
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Universitat Rovira I Virgili
• Original Assignee: Universitat Rovira I Virgili
• Inventors: Crespo Paravano, Gaston Adrian, Riu Rusell, Jordi, Macho Aparicio, Santiago, Rius Ferrus, Francesc Xavier
• Application Number:
  US12/602,176
• Publication Number:
  US 20100193376A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 205/775
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 27/3335 the membrane containing at least one organic component G01N27/3271 takes precedence; aspects concerning the enzyme reagent in enzyme electrodes C12Q1/001

Abstract

The invention defines an all-solid-contact ISE which comprises a transducer layer of carbon nanotubes which brings the sensing layer and conducting element into contact. The invention also defines a method for the preparation of said all-solid-contact ISE and the use of the same for the qualitative, quantitative or semi-quantitative analysis of analytes. Said all-solid-contact ISE makes it possible to detect or quantify highly diverse chemical species in a reliable and reproducible manner, with the added advantages derived from its simplicity and low construction cost.

Claims

1. An all-solid-contact ISE characterised in that it comprises a transducer layer of carbon nanotubes which brings the sensing layer and conducting element into contact.

2. An electrode according to claim 1, characterised in that the transducer layer of carbon nanotubes is formed by one or more carbon nanotubes.

3. An electrode according to claim 2, characterised in that the carbon nanotubes are selected from single-walled carbon nanotubes and multi-walled carbon nanotubes.

4. An electrode according to claim 1, characterised in that the transducer layer of carbon nanotubes has a thickness of between 1.5 nm and 50 μ

m.

5. An electrode according to claim 4, characterised in that the transducer layer of carbon nanotubes has a thickness of between 1 μ

m and 30 μ

m.

6. An electrode according to claim 5, characterised in that the transducer layer of carbon nanotubes has a thickness of 15 μ

m.

7. An electrode according to claim 1, characterised in that the sensing layer is selected from an ion-selective membrane, a gel with an analyte recognition element entrapped in its matrix, a semi-permeable membrane with an encapsulated analyte recognition element, a layer of analyte recognition elements adsorbed over the carbon nanotubes, a layer of analyte recognition elements covalently bonded to the carbon nanotubes and a layer of analyte recognition elements in contact with the carbon nanotubes through an interposed membrane.

8. An electrode according to claim 7, characterised in that the sensing layer is an ion-selective membrane.

9. An electrode according to claim 8, characterised in that the sensing layer is a potassium ion-selective membrane.

10. An electrode according to claim 1, characterised in that the sensing layer has a thickness of between 0.1 and 1000 μ

m.

11. An electrode according to claim 10, characterised in that the sensing layer has a thickness of between 1 and 100 μ

m.

12. An electrode according to claim 11, characterised in that the sensing layer has a thickness of 50 μ

m.

13. An electrode according to claim 1, characterised in that it comprises a substrate.

14. An electrode according to claim 13, characterised in that said substrate is a conducting substrate.

15. An electrode according to claim 13, characterised in that said substrate is a non-conducting substrate.

16. Method for the preparation of an all-solid-contact ISE according to claims 1-15, characterised in that it comprises:

(a) preparing a transducer layer of carbon nanotubes, and

(b) placing the transducer layer prepared in stage (a) in contact with the sensing layer.

17. Method according to claim 16, characterised in that in stage (a) the transducer layer is prepared by coating the substrate with a suspension of carbon nanotubes by aerosol spraying, depositing droplets, immersion or impregnation.

18. Method according to claim 16, characterised in that in stage (a) the transducer layer is prepared by powder compaction of the carbon nanotubes.

19. Use of the all-solid-contact ISE according to claims 1-15 for the qualitative, quantitative or semi-quantitative analysis of analytes.

20. Use according to claim 19, characterised in that the analytes are ions.

21. Use according to claim 20, characterised in that the analytes are potassium ions.