A Solid-Contact Potassium-Selective Electrode with MoO2 Microspheres as Ion-to-Electron Transducer

A solid-contact ion-selective electrode (SC-ISE) for potassium with MoO2 microspheres as ion-to-electron transducer is described. MoO2 microsphers can be synthesized via the reduction of MoO3 nanobelts in an isopropanol solvent with a mild process, and the obtained MoO2 microspheres have been characterized by X-ray diffraction and field-emission scanning electron microscopy. With the application of MoO2 microspheres, the newly fabricated SC-ISE for K+ exhibits a stable and rapid potential response. A near Nernstian slope of 55 mV/decade to potassium activities in the range of 10(-5). 10(-3) M is found and the detection limit is 10(-5.5) M. Impedance spectra and chronopotentiometry results show that a smaller resistance together with a larger double layer capacitance is guaranteed due to the introduction of the intermediate layer of MoO2 microspheres. Additionally, light, O-2 and CO2 do not induce significant influences to the present SC-ISE, and a reduced water layer between the ion selective membrane and the underlying conductor is formed. Thus, it is clear that MoO2 microspheres, as metallic analogues, can be used as a good candidate for the new type of transducing layer in SC-ISEs. (C) 2017 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.