Nickel(II)-selective sensor based on dibenzo-18-crown-6 in PVC matrix

Area of Science:

• Electrochemistry
• Analytical Chemistry
• Materials Science

Background:

• Development of selective ion-sensors is crucial for accurate chemical analysis.
• Nickel(II) ion detection is important in environmental and industrial monitoring.
• Poly(vinyl chloride) (PVC) based membranes offer a versatile platform for sensor fabrication.

Purpose of the Study:

• To fabricate and characterize a novel nickel(II)-selective sensor.
• To evaluate the sensor's performance in terms of response range, slope, and selectivity.
• To demonstrate the practical applicability of the developed sensor.

Main Methods:

• Fabrication of PVC matrix membranes incorporating dibenzo-18-crown-6 as the electroactive material.
• Optimization of membrane composition (crown ether:NaTPB:TEHP:PVC ratio of 10:1:200:200).
• Electrochemical characterization including potentiometric measurements and selectivity studies.

Main Results:

• The optimized sensor exhibited a linear potential response for Ni(II) from 1.0x10(-5) to 1.0x10(-1)M.
• A Nernstian slope of 29.5mV/decade was achieved in the pH range of 2.6-6.8.
• The sensor demonstrated fast response time (<25s), good reproducibility over 4 months, and selectivity against various cations.

Conclusions:

• A highly selective and robust nickel(II) sensor based on a dibenzo-18-crown-6 PVC membrane was successfully developed.
• The sensor's performance is suitable for practical applications, including potentiometric titrations and direct estimation of Ni(II) in real samples.
• This sensor represents a valuable tool for nickel ion determination in complex matrices.