Surface modification of p-Si by a polyethylenimine coating: influence of the surface pre-treatment. Application to a potentiometric transducer as pH sensor

Abstract p-Si electrodes coated with linear polyethylenimine (L-PEI) allow the fabrication of a pH sensitive film for potentiometric transducers. The coating is realized in one step through the anodic oxidation of pure ethylenediamine (EDA) charged with 0.1 M LiCF 3 SO 3 (Lithium Triflate). Such an electrochemical procedure leads to the thickness control of the coating. The best silicon surface pre-treatment before any coating is obtained with potassium dichromate in sulfuric acid, which leads to OH-terminated p-Si. This pre-treatment allows a uniform thin coating. In this work, the thickness is 2.6 nm. The pH response is high and close to 50 mV per pH unit.