Electrochemical and Optical Sensors for Ion Sensing

Abstract

The main goal of this thesis has been the development and fabrication of integrated sensors by combining optical redox indicators (ferroin and Prussian blue films) and potentiometric sensing systems into a closed bipolar electrode platform. This approach allows one to overcome some major fundamental limitations of traditional optical sensors. The simultaneous optical detection of an array of potentiometric sensors has been demonstrated using parallel closed bipolar electrodes. Finally, we were able to realize a self-powered optical sensing array based on potentiometric pH electrodes without a use of an external power source where the power required to affect the color change is directly drawn from the sensing probe. In other work, a new lipophilic molecular redox probe is explored as an ion-to-electron transducer in thin layer ion-transfer voltammetry. It was shown to give improved electrochemical reversibility relative to other common transducing materials.