Prussian Blue-coated interdigitated array electrodes for possible analytical application

Thin films of iron(III) hexacyanoferrate(II) (Prussian Blue) were electrochemically deposited on interdigitated array (IDA) electrodes, yielding systems which can be considered as chemiresistors in sensing alkali metal ion concentrations in an adjacent electrolyte. This is due to the fact that the conductivity of the film being measured by a steady-state current on application of a voltage to the two-fingered electrodes of the IDA depends on both the redox stare of the film and the cation concentration in the electrolyte. From the dependence of the steady-state current on the electrode (bias) potential at variable cation concentrations for different alkali metal ions and for mixtures of alkali metal ions, the possibilities of analytical application were elucidated. In addition, by using the methods of staircase coulometry and scanning conductivity, the electron diffusion coefficient De was determined as a function of the redox state of Prussian Blue. It is concluded that Prussian Blue-coated IDA electrodes are, in principle, suitable as chemiresistors for the determination of alkali metal ion concentrations with increasing selectivity in the series Li < Na < K < Rb < Cs.