Sodium Ion-Selective Chalcogenide Glass Electrodes

Abstract

Analytical characteristics and sensing mechanism of sodium ion-selective electrodes based on NaCl-Ga₂S₃-GeS₂ glasses have been investigated. Chalcogenide glass electrodes containing 10 mol.% NaCl in the membrane showed near-Nernstian response in the concentration range from 10-³ to 1 M sodium nitrate solution. These sensors were superior to the conventional pNa oxide glass electrodes in selectivity in the presence of hydrogen ions and in Na⁺ ion sensitivity in fluoride media. Prolonged solution treatment for several days reduces, however, the detection limit of the sensors and the slope of the electrode response. Ionic processes at the membrane surface have been investigated using XPS technique and ²²Na tracer measurements. It was shown that sodium ion-exchange governed Na⁺ ion response of chalcogenide

Key Words:

• Chalcogenide glass electrodes
• sodium ion sensors
• XPS and tracer studies of sensing mechanism