Performance modelling of zeolite-based potentiometric sensors

Jendrlin, Martin; Radu, Aleksandar; Zholobenko, Vladimir; Kirsanov, Dmitry

Abstract

Developing simple and cost-effective electrochemical sensors for widespread on-site application is of considerable practical importance in agriculture, environmental monitoring and food science. Among multiple sensing platforms, potentiometry is particularly effective in terms of simplicity, low cost and mass-production. This work is focused on a systematic analysis of the structure – performance relationship using chemometric techniques, which can be applied to sensor arrays with varying response patterns. The potentiometric sensitivity of zeolite-modified electrodes, containing thirteen synthetic and three natural zeolites, in aqueous solutions of Na+, K+, NH4+, Ca2+ and Mg2+ has been correlated with a range of zeolite characteristics using PCA and PLS modelling, thus demonstrating how structural and physical properties impact the performance of zeolite-modified potentiometric sensors. In addition to steric factors, e.g. zeolite pore size, the important characteristics governing the sensor performance are the Si/Al ratio and the presence of specific extraframework cations. For instance, K+ and Na+ show a strong effect on the potentiometric sensitivity towards Ca2+. The level of precision achieved by the PLS models indicates that semi-quantitative predictions are feasible. To improve the computational models, larger sets of data with a wider range of zeolite-modified sensors are necessary. The constituent materials of such sensors should have a set of well-defined properties, which can be controlled and tuned for a particular application. It is anticipated that synthetic rather than natural zeolites would satisfy such requirements.

• Journal Article Type: Article
• Acceptance Date: Dec 29, 2021
• Online Publication Date: Dec 31, 2021
• Publication Date: 2022-04
• Deposit Date: May 30, 2023
• Journal: Sensors and Actuators B: Chemical
• Print ISSN: 0925-4005
• Publisher: Elsevier
• Peer Reviewed: Peer Reviewed
• Volume: 356
• Pages: 131343
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.snb.2021.131343
• Keywords: Materials Chemistry; Electrical and Electronic Engineering; Metals and Alloys; Surfaces, Coatings and Films; Condensed Matter Physics; Instrumentation; Electronic, Optical and Magnetic Materials
• Additional Information: This article is maintained by: Elsevier; Article Title: Performance modelling of zeolite-based potentiometric sensors; Journal Title: Sensors and Actuators B: Chemical; CrossRef DOI link to publisher maintained version: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.snb.2021.131343; Content Type: article; Copyright: © 2021 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.