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Hydrogen-ion selective solid contact electrodes based on tribenzylamine, dibenzylnaphthalenemethylamine, and dibenzylpyrenemethylamine ionophores were prepared. With these electrodes, we showed that the response ranges were influenced by the number of phenyl rings in the ionophores. The lower limits for a linear pH response in acidic solutions were pH 2.50, 0.65, and 0.50, respectively. As the number of phenyl rings in the ionophores increased, the slopes of the EMF responses of these electrodes did not change significantly, but their response extended toward an acidic range (shifted to pH 0.50). Thus, their dynamic response range became wider. A solid contact electrode with dibenzylpyrenemethylamine ionophore, in particular, showed the best selectivity, from the interference of cations and anions, and the best reproducibility of the EMF. This electrode was stored in Tris buffer solutions, artificial serum, and hydrofluoric acid solutions for one month without any loss of performance. Their response time was 8 s. Satisfactory results were obtained when it was tested directly with artificial serum (in pH range 6.0 - 8.5) and hydrofluoric acid.

We compared the slopes of the EMF responses and the response range of a solid contact electrode based on a tribenzylamine ionophore with those based on a tris(2-phenylethyl)amine ionophore and a tris(3-phenylpropyl)amine ionophore. Their slopes of the EMF responses showed, respectively, 57.7, 58.1, 59.0 mV pH(-1) (at 20 +/- 0.2 degrees C). Also, the linear pH response dynamic ranges were 2.74-10.63 for tribenzylamine-based SCEs, pH 4.47-12.59 for tris(2-phenylethyl)amine, and pH 4.60-13.24 for tris(3-phenylpropyl)amine. When the slopes of the EMF responses and the response range were considered, as the length of the replaced alkyl chain increased between the nitrogen atom and the phenyl group in the ionophore, though the dynamic range and the slopes of the EMF responses of these electrodes did not show any particularly different results, their response ranges moved toward the alkali range (shifted to pH 14). When it was directly applied to cow's milk (in pH range of 6.0-8.5), we could obtain the same satisfying results. This electrode continuously contacted a Tris 7.50 buffered solution as well as cow's milk for one month without any loss of performance. Also, especially, these electrodes showed very good results, such as stabilization of the base potential as well as the best reproducibility and response time (< 10 s).

A hydrogen ion-selective solid-contact electrode based on N,N,N',N'-tetrabenzylethanediamine has shown the best Nernstian slope and selectivity and the widest response range in a Tris buffered pH sample solution. Its linear dynamic range was pH 3.50-11.94, and the Nernstian slope showed 52.1 mV/pH (at 20 +/- 0.2 degrees C). When it was directly applied to human whole blood (in pH range 6.0-8.5) we could obtain the same satisfying results. This electrode continuously contacted a Tris 7.47 buffered solution, human whole blood and a hydrofluoric acid solution for one month without any loss of performance. Also, hydrofluoric acid did not influence the surface of this electrode, and thus it was maintained without showing any changes in potentials after being used in a hydrofluoric acid solution. The standard deviation in the determined e.m.f. differences was 1.5 mV (N = 5) for Tris buffer solutions of pH 6.5 and 1.1 mV at a Tris buffer solutions of pH 8.5. The 90% response time of the electrodes obtained by injecting of hydrochloric acid into the Tris buffer sample solution was less than 10 s. Especially, in the this paper, with these potential response characteristics of hydrogen ion selective poly(aniline) solid contact electrode, we have also presented the pH response mechanism of this electrode and the role of poly(aniline) and a doped anion in a poly(aniline) layer.