Potassium selective quartz crystal microbalance chemical sensors using functionalized copolymer coatings

G J Price, P L Drake

OAI: oai:purehost.bath.ac.uk:publications/dcf63071-d633-42f5-8db0-2eba9fe0c790 • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.snb.2005.05.034

Quartz crystal microbalance sensors that specifically detect K+ ions have been developed using copolymers based on poly(acrylic acid) and functionalised with crown ethers to provide selectivity. The coatings selectively absorb K+ over other Group I ions such as Li+ and Na+. Sensors have been used in both batch and flow modes with detection limits in the region of 0.1-0.2 ppm for K-(aq)(+) with a linear range extending to over 1000ppm. The sensors perform at least as well as other recently developed methodologies although further optimisation should significantly improve this performance.