Analytical Sciences


Abstract − Analytical Sciences, 20(8), 1165 (2004).

Neutral-Carrier-Type Potassium Ion-Selective Electrodes Based on Polymer-supported Liquid-Crystal Membranes for Practical Use
Syusuke OOSAKI, Yoshikazu KAWAI, Setsuko YAJIMA, and Keiichi KIMURA
Department of Applied Chemistry, Faculty of Systems Engineering, Wakayama University, Sakaedani 930, Wakayama, Wakayama 640-8510, Japan
Polymer-supported liquid-crystal membranes have been designed for neutral-carrier-type potassium ion-selective electrodes, aiming for practical applications of high-performance liquid-crystalline membrane ion sensors. Two types of polymer-supported liquid-crystal membranes were tested for their usefulness; one is microporous poly(tetra fluoroethylene) (PTFE) membranes impregnated by thermotropic liquid-crystalline compounds, and another is poly(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA) membrane dispersing the same liquid-crystalline compounds. Both of the polymersupported liquid-crystal membranes containing a liquid-crystalline benzo-15-crown-5 neutral carrier as well as a lipophilic anion excluder work well as ion-sensing membranes for potassium ion-selective electrodes, the ion selectivities of which can be switched by the measurement temperatures. Specifically, PTFE-impregnated liquid-crystal membranes are better than the PMMA-dispersed ones in the sensitivity and selectivity of the resulting ion electrodes. A potassium ion assay in blood sera has proved that neutral-carrier-type ion-selective electrodes based on the polymer-supported liquid-crystal membranes are reliable for practical uses.