Hybrid perfluorosulfonated membranes with zirconia(IV) nanoparticles as an electrode-active material for potentiometric sensors

The effect that modifying MF-4SC and Nafion membranes with ZrO2 nanoparticles has on the sensitivity of PD-sensors (devices with an analytical signal in the form of a Donnan potential) to bulky organic ions in acid solutions of novocaine and lidocaine hydrochlorides and in alkaline solutions of glycine and cysteine is studied. The hybrid membranes are in situ synthesized by introducing dopant particles into the matrix of a finished membrane. An examination of the diffusion permeability of the membranes reveals that modification with ZrO2 nanoparticles leads to a deceleration of the anion transport rate and an improvement in the cation transport selectivity when compared to the original membranes. Potentiometric measurements show that the sensitivity of PD-sensors based on hybrid membranes to cations in acid solutions of NovHCl and LidHCl significantly increases compared to sensors based on unmodified membranes. An increase in the ZrO2 concentration in the membrane matrix results in a considerable increase in the sensitivity of PD-sensors to anions in alkaline solutions of amino acids, while the sensitivity to cations exhibits a tendency to decrease. The results show that hybrid membranes can be used in potentiometric sensors as electrode-active materials that are highly sensitive to various ions.