Molten salt Cu(I) intercalation into the poly(triazine imide) for the electrochemical sensing of nitrite

Abstract

Slight modification of the molten salt synthesis of poly(triazine imide) (PTI) with introduction of copper (I) chloride yielded a novel copper modified material. Energy‐dispersive x‐ray spectroscopy together with electron microscopy confirmed homogenous distribution of the copper within PTI lattice. X‐ray photoelectron spectroscopy suggests the copper to coordinate randomly at bridging nitrogen atoms. Thus obtained material exhibited excellent sensitivity to nitrite anions together with low limits of detection. Under previously optimized experimental conditions and pH 4 of supporting electrolyte, differential pulse voltammetric detection method showed linear response in wide range from 5 to 2200 μM with detection limit of 1.3 μM. Practical applicability for the developed method was scrutinized in wastewater and pipe water samples. Developed method of metal ion intercalation open doors to widespread introduction of metal ions in the PTI structure for practical utilization.