Development of low-cost metal oxide pH electrodes based on the polymeric precursor method

Area of Science:

• Electrochemistry
• Materials Science
• Analytical Chemistry

Background:

• Development of cost-effective and reliable pH sensors is crucial for various applications.
• Traditional glass pH electrodes can be fragile and expensive.
• Iridium oxide shows promise as a pH-sensitive material.

Purpose of the Study:

• To prepare low-cost solid-state pH sensors using iridium oxide and titanium dioxide.
• To evaluate the electroanalytical properties of the developed sensors.
• To compare sensor performance with commercial glass pH electrodes.

Main Methods:

• Polymeric precursor method for sensor fabrication.
• Preparation of iridium oxide-titanium dioxide (IrO(x)-TiO(2)) binary system.
• Electrochemical evaluation of sensor performance across a wide pH range (1-13).

Main Results:

• Minimum iridium content of 30mol% yielded suitable results.
• The IrO(x)-TiO(2) electrode exhibited a Nernstian and fast response.
• No hysteresis effect was observed, and high selectivity against alkali ions was demonstrated.
• Minimal iridium usage (<0.1mg) highlights method efficiency.

Conclusions:

• The polymeric precursor method enables the efficient fabrication of functional, low-cost solid-state pH electrodes.
• The IrO(x)-TiO(2) system offers a viable alternative to conventional pH sensing technologies.
• These sensors are suitable for accurate and selective pH determination in diverse environments.