Up-scaling a Sol-Gel Process for the Production of a Multi-Component Xerogel Powder.

A sol-gel process for the synthesis of a multi-component oxide material from the system SiO2-ZrO2-Al2O3underwent optimization and up-scaling. Initially, on a laboratory scale, components including precursors, catalysts, and additives were methodically evaluated to ensure a safe and efficient transition to larger volumes. Subsequently, the equipment for the whole setup of the sol-gel process was strategically selected.

Self-Powered Electrochromic Readout of Potentiometric pH Electrodes.

An absorbance-based colorimetric sensor array that is self-powered by an ion-selective electrode (ISE) in a short-circuited cell is presented. As the cell voltage is maintained at zero, the potential at the ISE serves as the power generator to directly transfer its power to a potential-dependent Prussian blue (PB) film in contact with an electrolyte solution in a separate detection compartment. This allows one to activate the color change of the PB film without the need for an external power supply.

Optical Sensing with a Potentiometric Sensing Array by Prussian Blue Film Integrated Closed Bipolar Electrodes.

The simultaneous optical readout of a potentiometric sensor array of ion-selective electrodes (ISEs) based on PVC membranes is described here for the first time. The optical array consists of electrochromic Prussian Blue (PB) films in multiple closed ion-selective bipolar electrodes (BPEs), which gives a physical separation between the optical detection and sample compartments. The potential-dependent turnover of PB generates Prussian White (PW).

Tunable Optical Sensing with PVC-Membrane-Based Ion-Selective Bipolar Electrodes.

We show here that the response of ion-selective membrane electrodes (ISEs) based on traditional PVC membranes can be directly translated to a colorimetric readout by a closed bipolar electrode (BPE) arrangement. Because the resulting optical response is based on the turnover of the redox probe, ferroin, dissolved in a thin layer compartment, it directly indicates the potential change at the ISE in combination with a reference electrode. This class of probes measures ion activity, analogous to their ISE counterparts.

Colorimetric Readout for Potentiometric Sensors with Closed Bipolar Electrodes.

We present here a general strategy to translate potential change at a potentiometric probe into a tunable color readout. It is achieved with a closed bipolar electrode where the ion-selective component is confined to one end of the electrode while color is generated at the opposite pole, allowing one to physically separate the detection compartment from the sample. An electrical potential is imposed across the bipolar electrode by solution contact such that the potentiometric signal change at the sample side modulates the potential at the detection side.

Electrochemical ion transfer mediated by a lipophilic Os(ii)/Os(iii) dinonyl bipyridyl probe incorporated in thin film membranes.

A new lipophilic dinonyl bipyridyl Os(ii)/Os(iii) complex successfully mediates ion transfer processes across voltammetric thin membranes. An added lipophilic cation-exchanger may impose voltammetric anion or cation transfer waves of Gaussian shape that are reversible and repeatable. The peak potential is found to shift with the ion concentration in agreement with the Nernst equation.

Alkalinization of Thin Layer Samples with a Selective Proton Sink Membrane Electrode for Detecting Carbonate by Carbonate-Selective Electrodes.

Potentiometry is known to be sensitive to so-called free ion activity and is a potentially valuable tool in environmental speciation analysis. Here, the direct detection of free and total carbonate is demonstrated by alkalinization of a thin layer sample (∼100 μm), which is electrochemically triggered at a pH responsive membrane placed opposite a carbonate-selective membrane electrode. The concept may serve as a promising future methodology for in situ environmental sensing applications where traditional sampling and pretreatment steps are no longer required.

Phenytoin speciation with potentiometric and chronopotentiometric ion-selective membrane electrodes.

We report on an electrochemical protocol based on perm-selective membranes to provide valuable information about the speciation of ionizable drugs, with phenytoin as a model example. Membranes containing varying amounts of tetradodecylammonium chloride (TDDA) were read out at zero current (potentiometry) and with applied current techniques (chronopotentiometry). Potentiometry allows one to assess the ionized form of phenytoin (pKa~8.