Copper(II) ion sensor based on electropolymerized undoped conducting polymers

Abstract

A solid state copper(II) ion sensor is reported based on the application of electropolymerized undoped (neutral) polycarbazole (PCz) and polyindole (PIn) modified electrodes. The new sensor shows high selectivity to Cu2+ ions with a detection limit of 10-5 M. PCz and PIn are formed respectively by the anodic oxidation of 50 mM carbazole and 5 mM indole monomers in dichloromethane containing 0.1 M tetrabutylammonium perchlorate on a platinum electrode using a single compartment cell. Potentiostatic polymerization of both the monomers are carried out at 1.3 V and 1.0 V vs. Ag/AgCl, respectively. Perchlorate ions were electrochemically removed from the polymer films by applying -0.2 V vs. Ag/AgCl. Polymer-coated electrodes are incubated in 1 M KCl solution for 8 h followed by incubation in distilled water for 2 h before using as a metal ion sensor. The undoped PCz and PIn electrodes were found to be highly selective and sensitive for Cu2+ ions with little selectivity for Pb2+ and negligible response towards Ag+, Hg2+, Cu+, Ni2+, Co2+, Fe2+, Fe3+ or Zn2+. Potentiometric responses for Cu2+ ions are recorded for both the sensor electrodes together with a double-junction Ag/AgCl reference electrode. Calibration curves for Cu2+ are reported for both ion sensors. The polymer-modified electrodes were found to be stable for several weeks.