A novel solid-state reference electrode was developed by combining nanoporous Pt with polyelectrolyte junction. The polyelectrolyte junction was formed in the microchannel connecting the nanoporous Pt and the sample solution, and had layer-by-layer structure of oppositely charged polyelectrolytes. The layer-by-layer polyelectrolyte junction effectively blocked the mass transport of ions and maintains constant pH environments on the surface of the nanoporous Pt. The assembly of the polyelectrolyte junction and the nanoporous Pt, which produced reportedly a stable open-circuit potential in response to constant pH, exhibited outstanding performance as a solid-state reference electrode (e.g., excellent reproducibility of ±4 mV (n = 5), good long term stability of ±1 mV (for 50 h), and independence of solution environments like pH and ionic strength). A working principle of the solid-state reference electrode with layer-by-layer polyelectrolyte junction was suggested in terms of the roles of each layer and the effect of the neighboring layer. As a demonstrative application of the solid-state reference electrode, a miniaturized chip-type solid-state pH sensor comprised of two nanoporous Pt electrodes and a micro-patterned layer-by-layer polyelectrolyte junction was developed. The solid-state pH sensing chip showed reliable pH responses without liquid junction and successfully worked in a variety of buffers, beverages, and biological samples, showing its potential utility for practical applications. In addition, the solid-state pH sensing chip was integrated in a microfluidic system to be utilized for pH monitoring in microfluidic flow.

A biosensor is a sensing device that incorporates a biological sensing element and a transducer to produce electrochemical, optical, mass, or other signals in proportion to quantitative information about the analytes in the given samples. The microfluidic chip is an attractive miniaturized platform with valuable advantages, e.g., low cost analysis requiring low reagent consumption, reduced sample volume, and shortened processing time. Combination of biosensors and microfluidic chips enhances analytical capability so as to widen the scope of possible applications. This review provides an overview of recent research activities in the field of biosensors integrated on microfluidic chips, focusing on the working principles, characteristics, and applicability of the biosensors. Theoretical background and applications in chemical, biological, and clinical analysis are summarized and discussed.

A disposable solid-state pH sensor was realized by utilizing two nanoporous Pt (npPt) electrodes and a copolyelectrolytic junction. One nanoporous Pt electrode was to measure the pH as an indicating electrode (pH-IE) and the other assembled with copolyelectrolytic junction was to maintain constant open circuit potential (Eoc) as a solid-state reference electrode (SSRE). The copolyelectrolytic junction was composed of cationic and anionic polymers immobilized by photo-polymerization of N,N'-methylenebisacrylamide, making buffered electrolytic environment on the SSRE. It was expected to make. The nanoporous Pt surrounded by a constant pH excellently worked as a solid state reference electrode so as to stabilize the system within 30 s and retain the electrochemical environment regardless of unknown sample solutions. Combination between the SSRE and the pH-IE commonly based on nanoporous Pt yielded a complete solid-state pH sensor that requires no internal filling solution. The solid state pH sensing chip is simple and easy to fabricate so that it could be practically used for disposable purposes. Moreover, the solid-state pH sensor successfully functions in calibration-free mode in a variety of buffers and surfactant samples.