Device for providing a means for internal calibration in an electrochemical sensor

摘要

Internally calibrated pH and other analyte sensors based on redox agents provide more accurate results when the redox active reference agent is in a constant chemical environment, yet separated from the solution being analyzed in such a way as to maintain electrical contact with the sample. Room temperature ionic liquids (RTIL) can be used to achieve these results when used as a salt bridge between the reference material and the sample being analyzed. The RTIL provides the constant chemical environment and ionic strength for the redox active material (RAM) and provides an electrolytic layer that limits or eliminates direct chemical interaction with the sample. A broad range of RAMs can be employed in a variety of configurations in such “Analyte Insensitive Electrode” devices.

主权项

1. A multi-phase analyte insensitive electrode (AIE) for use in an electrochemical sensing device for measuring an analyte in a sample, the AIE comprising
(a) an electrolytic layer; (b) an electrically conductive component electrically connected to the electrolytic layer; (c) a redox active material capable of being at least one of electrically oxidized and electrically reduced, the redox active material being dispersed in at least one of the electrolytic layer and the conductive component, the redox active material being selected from the group consisting of n-butyl-ferrocene, silver nanoparticle-coated glassy carbon, ferrocene, polylvinylferrocene, NiHCF, ferrocene styrene copolymers, ferrocene styrene cross-linked copolymers, Ni Cyclam, and K4Fe(CN)6, anthraquinone (AQ), anthracene, 9,10-phenanthrenequinone (PAQ), 1,4-benzoquinone, 1,2-benzoquinone, 1,4-napthaquinone, 1,2-napthaquinone, N,N′-diphenyl-p-phenylenediamine (DPPD), azo containing compounds, azobenzene and derivatives thereof, porphyrins and derivatives thereof, octaethylporphyrin, tetraphenylporphyrins, metalloporphyrins and derivatives thereof, hemin, iron octaethylprophyrin, iron tetraphenylporphyrin, and viologens and derivatives thereof, methyl viologen, a redox-active organic molecule, redox-active polymers, metal complexes, organometallic species, metals, metal salts, or semiconductors, and wherein the redox active material undergoes one or more electron transfer processes; and (d) a conductive physical barrier positioned so that it is interposed between the electrolytic layer and a sample when the electrode is in contact with the sample, and that physically separates the electrolytic layer from the sample.