The electrical conductivity of phospholipid films as an iodine-sensing mechanism

The d.c. electrical conductivity of dry phospholipid films is increased by some 8-11 orders of magnitude by the adsorption of iodine vapor. The conductivity of these films has been found to increase as a function of iodine 'vapor pressure' and the quantitative relationship between electrical conductivity and the adsorbed iodine has been determined. Films composed of phospholipids with unsaturated hydrocarbon chains are some three orders of magnitude more electrically conductive than are films of phospholipids containing saturated hydrocarbon chains. Optical spectroscopic measurements show the development of absorption bands centered near 294 nm and 365 nm, upon iodine adsorption. These bands are much more intense for unsaturated phospholipids than for saturated ones. X-ray diffraction studies show that exposure to iodine decreases the thickness of phospholipid bilayers containing unsaturated hydrocarbon chains but does not change the thickness of bilayers containing only saturated chains. The electrical response of the lipid films, upon exposure to iodine, suggests their possible use as iodine sensors.