A novel sensor based on electropolymerized substituted-phenols for pH detection in unbuffered systems

Dai, Chencheng; Crawford, Lynne P.; Song, Peng; Fisher, Adrian C.; Lawrence, Nathan S.

Abstract

This work summarizes the electrochemical response of a range of substituted phenols, including salicylaldehyde and salicylic acid, for use as a voltammetric pH sensor for the determination of pH in both buffered and unbuffered media. Suitable candidates are identified and mechanistic insights into oxidation mechanism of the electro-polymerization by comparing with other substituted phenols are given. Square wave voltammetry measurements suggest the peak achieved through the electrochemical polymerization directly after the 1-electron 1-proton oxidation for both salicylaldehyde and salicylic acid shows a Nernstian response with good definition through a pH range from 2 to 10. In addition, hydrogen bonding enables the compound to sense the pH of unbuffered solutions with an error of less than 1%.

Citation

Dai, C., Crawford, L. P., Song, P., Fisher, A. C., & Lawrence, N. S. (2015). A novel sensor based on electropolymerized substituted-phenols for pH detection in unbuffered systems. RSC advances, 5(126), 104048-104053. https://doi.org/10.1039/c5ra22595g

• Journal Article Type: Article
• Acceptance Date: Nov 27, 2015
• Publication Date: Dec 1, 2015
• Deposit Date: Jun 8, 2022
• Journal: RSC Advances
• Print ISSN: 2046-2069
• Electronic ISSN: 2046-2069
• Publisher: Royal Society of Chemistry
• Peer Reviewed: Peer Reviewed
• Volume: 5
• Issue: 126
• Pages: 104048-104053
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.1039/c5ra22595g
• Public URL: https://hull-repository.worktribe.com/output/3592946