In the present paper, fabrication, characterization, and physiological applications of a solid-state pH electrode are described. The pH sensing layer was based on an anodic electrodeposited iridium oxide film (AEIROF). Sputtered platinum electrodes (1 mm diameter) fabricated on flexible Kapton films or platinum wires were used as planar or cylindrical supports. Each electrode site was coated with Nafion to attenuate the interference of anionic redox species and to protect the electrode surface during in vivo measurements. Performance of the AEIROF was evaluated, for the first time, as a pH electrode and proved to have a slightly super-Nernstian response with slope of -63.5 +/- 2.2 mV/pH unit for both wire and planar sputtered platinum electrodes. Linear pH responses were obtained in the pH range 2-10. The electrodes have a working lifetime of at least 1 month with accuracy of about 0.02 pH unit and fast response time. The electrodes showed very low sensitivities for different species, such as Na+, K+, Li+, NH4+, Ca2+, Mg2+, dissolved oxygen, lactate, ascorbate, and urate, which are important for physiological applications. The electrodes were applied in extracellular pH measurements during brief regional ischemia in a swine heart and no-flow ischemia in an isolated rabbit papillary muscle. A first report on extracellular pH, K+, and lactate simultaneous measurements during no-flow ischemia using the AEIROF pH electrode and the previously described K+ and lactate electrodes is presented as well.

In the present paper, the preparation and characterization of an improved solid-state pH sensor are described. The sensor is based on anodically electrodeposited iridium oxide film, as a pH-sensing layer. Merits of the present sensor include (i) excellent adhesion of the pH sensitive layer to the substrate, (ii) excellent reproducibility of sensor fabrication, (iii) faster preparation procedure, and (iv) low cost of the titanium substrate. These advantages are realized by combining acid-etched titanium as the electrode substrate with an optimized electrodeposition solution consisting of IrCl4 as an iridium source, hydrogen peroxide, potassium oxalate, and potassium carbonate. Heating the electrodeposition solution to 90 degrees C reduced the time required for solution development from approximately 3 days to 10 min. The pH-sensing layer is protected with a layer of Nafion and a microporous polyester membrane. The improved sensor showed a super-Nernstian response (-73.7 +/- 1.2 mV/pH unit) in the pH range of 1.5-11.5. The present pH sensor, fabricated in a tubular form, is used as a detector in a flow injection analysis (FIA) system for pH measurements. Optimization of the FIA experimental parameters resulted in a linear dependence of peak heights on the pH of the injected samples in the pH range of 2-11.

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Upon graduation, chemistry majors often find themselves inadequately prepared for the “real world” that awaits them when they join the workplace. Some employers find chemistry graduates lacking written- and oral-communication skills, critical-thinking skills, group-work skills, as well as the ability to efficiently analyze data and retrieve chemical information. To address these deficiencies, we developed an undergraduate chemistry course that focuses on professional and transferable skills and have incorporated it into the chemistry curriculum. Two specific hands-on examples to effectively teach students data acquisition and manipulation from a chemistry perspective are described. This course received positive feedback from students and gave them skills that helped them not only during their chemistry education, but also when they entered the workforce. Universities that do not have a similar course should consider adopting and incorporating it in their curricula.

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