Electrochemical sensors

• US 8,758,584 B2
• Filed: 12/16/2011
• Issued: 06/24/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 12/16/2010
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Sensor Innovations, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Sensor Innovations, Inc.
• Inventors: Kahn, Carolyn R., Wong, Elicia, Wilkins, James A., Norviel, Vern
• Primary Examiner(s): DIETERLE, JENNIFER M
• Application Number:
  US13/329,135
• Publication Number:
  US 20120187000A1
• Time in Patent Office: 921 Days
• Field of Search: 204400-435, 205775-792, 548/406, 422/68.1, 422/83.02, 422/82.03, 428/149, 428/1.23, 428/405, 324/438, 257/4
• US Class Current: 204/416
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 27/302 pH sensitive, e.g. quinhydron, antimony or hydrogen electrodes ion selective electrodes G01N27/333, glass electrodes G01N27/36
• 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
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 27/4167 pH electrodes therefor G01N27/302, G01N27/36
• CPC Class Codes: Y02A 90/10 Information and communication technologies [ICT] supporting adaptation to climate change, e.g. for weather forecasting or climate simulation
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/24421 Silicon containing

Abstract

Systems and methods are provided for detecting the presence of an analyte in a sample. A solid state electrochemical sensor can include a redox active moiety having an oxidation and/or reduction potential that is sensitive to the presence of an analyte immobilized over a surface of a working electrode. A redox active moiety having an oxidation and/or reduction potential that is insensitive to the presence of the analyte can be used for reference. Voltammetric measurements made using such systems can accurately determine the presence and/or concentration of the analyte in the sample. The solid state electrochemical sensor can be robust and not require calibration or re-calibration.

Claims

1. A sensor for detecting the presence or absence of an analyte, comprising:

a first solid state electrode having a surface having immobilized thereon a layer of a first redox-active moiety, wherein the first redox-active moiety has an oxidation potential and/or a reduction potential that is sensitive to the presence of the analyte; and

a second solid state electrode having a surface having immobilized thereon a layer of a second redox-active moiety and a layer of a polymeric material adjacent to the layer of the second redox-active moiety, wherein the second redox-active moiety has an oxidation potential and/or reduction potential that is sensitive to the presence of the analyte.

2. The sensor of claim 1, wherein the layer of the polymeric material is a light blocking layer.

3. The sensor of claim 2, wherein the polymeric material comprises polyethersulphone.

4. The sensor of claim 1, further comprising a protective layer adjacent to the layer of the polymeric material.

5. The sensor of claim 4, wherein the protective layer comprises another polymeric material.

6. The sensor of claim 1, wherein the polymeric material has the formula C₇HF₁₃O₅S*C₂F₄.

7. The sensor of claim 1, wherein the layer of the polymeric material comprises a porous plastic.

8. The sensor of claim 1, wherein the first or second solid state electrode comprises carbon.

9. The sensor of claim 1, wherein the first or second solid state electrode comprises silicon.

10. The sensor of claim 1, wherein the layer of the polymeric material comprises pores.

11. The sensor of claim 10, wherein said pores have a pore size between about 0.1 micrometers and 1 micrometer.

12. The sensor of claim 1, wherein the analyte is hydrogen ion.

13. The sensor of claim 1, wherein the layer of the polymeric material is an ion selective layer.

22. The solid state sensor of claim 1, wherein the solid state electrode is non-metallic.

14. A solid state sensor for detecting the presence or absence of an analyte, comprising (i) a solid state electrode having a surface having immobilized thereon a layer of a redox-active moiety, (ii) a layer of a polymeric material and (iii) a protective layer adjacent to the layer of the polymeric material, wherein the layer of the polymeric material is porous and covers the layer of the redox-active moiety, wherein the redox-active moiety has an oxidation potential and/or a reduction potential that is directly sensitive to the presence of the analyte, and wherein the redox-active moiety is immobilized on the surface through a covalent interaction with the solid state electrode.

15. The solid state sensor of claim 14, further comprising a light blocking layer adjacent to the layer of the polymeric material.

16. The solid state sensor of claim 15, wherein the light blocking layer transmits less than 10% of light incident on the light blocking layer.

17. The solid state sensor of claim 16, wherein the light blocking layer transmits less than 5% of light incident on the light blocking layer.

18. The solid state sensor of claim 17, wherein the light blocking layer transmits less than 1% of light incident on the light blocking layer.

19. The solid state sensor of claim 14, wherein the analyte is hydrogen ion.

20. The solid state sensor of claim 14, wherein the solid state electrode comprises silicon.

21. The solid state sensor of claim 14, wherein the layer of the polymeric material is an ion selective layer.

23. The solid state sensor of claim 14, wherein the layer of the polymeric material selectively screens off anions and only allows the passage of cations.