Ion-selective electrodes using multi-walled carbon nanotubes as ion-to-electron transducers for the detection of perchlorate.

A solid contact ion-selective electrode using for the first time multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWCNT) for the transducer material was developed for detecting perchlorate in water. To demonstrate the excellent ion-to electron transducer ability of the MWCNTs, a 15 microm thick layer of carboxylated MWCNT was deposited between an acrylic membrane selective to perchlorate ions and a glassy carbon rod used as the substrate and electrical conductor. The electrodes showed a Nernstian response of 57 mV decade(-1) (standard deviation of 3 mV decade(-1) over time and different electrodes) across a wide linear range of 10(-6) to 10(-2) M. The limit of detection was 10(-7.4) M of perchlorate. The response time was less than 10 s for activities higher than 10(-6) M and the intermediate-term potential stability shows a small drift of 0.22 mV h(-1) recorded over 5 hours. The electrode displays a selectivity comparable to liquid-contacted ISEs containing the same membrane.