Acyclic Arylamine-Based Ionophores as Potentiometric Sensors for Zn2+ and Ni2+ Ions

Abstract

Two receptor molecules N-(2-nitrophenyl)benzene-1,2-diamine (DPA) and N,N-bis(2-nitrophenyl)benzene-1,2-diamine (TPA) are proposed as Zn2+ and Ni2+-selective electrodes, respectively. The two electrodes respond to Zn2+ and Ni2+ ions with the detection limits of 1.3 × 10−6 M and 2.8 × 10−6 M, respectively. Both the electrodes have a life time of four months and respond within 15 s and 20 s, respectively, for Zn2+ and Ni2+ over a wide pH range (3–9). The electrodes show very good selectivity towards the primary ions in presence of some alkali, alkaline earth, and transition metal ions.