An Electrochemical pH Sensor Based on the Amino-Functionalized Graphene and Polyaniline Composite Film

IEEE Trans Nanobioscience. 2016 Dec;15(8):812-819. doi: 10.1109/TNB.2016.2625842. Epub 2016 Nov 7.

Abstract

Conventional glass-based pH sensors are usually fragile and space consuming. Herein, a miniature electrochemical pH sensor based on amino-functionalized graphene fragments and polyaniline (NH2-G/PANI) composite film is developed via simply one-pot electrochemical polymerization on the ITO-coated glass substrates. Cyclic Voltammetry (CV), Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM), Transmission electron microscopy (TEM), X-ray Photoelectron Spectroscopy (XPS), and Raman Spectra are involved to confirm the successful synthesis and to characterize the properties of the NH2-G/PANI composite film. The developed electrochemical pH sensor presents fast response, high sensitivity (51.1 mV/pH) and wide detection range when applied to PBS solutions of pH values from 1 to 11. The robust reproducibility and good stability of the developed pH sensors are investigated as well. Compared to the conventional glass-based pH meters, the NH2-G/PANI composite film-based pH sensor could be a promising contender for the flexible and miniaturized pH-sensing devices.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Aniline Compounds / chemistry*
  • Electrochemical Techniques / instrumentation*
  • Graphite / chemistry*
  • Hydrogen-Ion Concentration
  • Nanocomposites / chemistry*
  • Sensitivity and Specificity

Substances

  • Aniline Compounds
  • polyaniline
  • Graphite