Azo calix[4]arene based neodymium(III)-selective PVC membrane sensor

A membrane-free cation selective water-gated transistor

“…Established sensors split these processes over two separate functional components: Typically, a sensitised PVC membrane for cation/ionophore complexation, and an electrochemical transducer [e.g. 15 ], or a TFT 23,24 , to detect potential shift. We here unite both functions in a single layer that is deposited in a single step.…”

“…Firstly, our sensor, as well as devices incorporating PVC membranes (e.g. 15,23,24 ), display near-Nernstian response only down to a limiting concentration, which sets a limit of detection (LoD) which is approximated as c st by the Nikolsky-Eisenman equation. As Nikolsky theory relates c st to the sensitiser rather than the transducer, we propose to dope rrP3HT with ionophores that are known to lead to very low LoD in potentiometric transducers, e.g.…”

“…As Nikolsky theory relates c st to the sensitiser rather than the transducer, we propose to dope rrP3HT with ionophores that are known to lead to very low LoD in potentiometric transducers, e.g. 15 . Secondly, the read-out of our sensor is currently V th is evaluated manually from measured and plotted transfer characteristics.…”

“…Often, complexation is instead transduced electrochemically [e.g. 15 ] via a change in interfacial potential. However, many macrocycles are almost insoluble in water 16,17 .…”

Innate cation sensitivity in a semiconducting polymer

“…Stille coupling is catalysed by the organometallic Pd(0) complex tris(dibenzylideneacetone)dipalladium(0), Pd 2 (dba) 3 [6]. Sensitisers used in PVC membranes typically also are organic metal-complexing agents at low concentration [12,13], including the membrane used by List-Kratochvil et al [5] which is described in [14]. The ability of alkaline earth metals to form organometallic complexes is established [15], they may therefore compete with Pd for complexation with tris(dibenzylideneacetone).…”