The Construction and Operation of Anion Sensors: Current Status and Future Perspectives

Abstract

This chapter is intended to provide an insight into the construction and operation of anion sensing devices, rather than the chemistry of anion sensing per se, and therefore will concentrate more on the practical aspects of anion sensing rather than on the design of molecules or receptors that are used to specifically detect the presence of anions. Two main types of anion sensing, namely electrical and optical, will be discussed. We firstly discuss ion-selective electrodes, their construction and use, and progress through to more complex devices such as ISFETs and CHEMFETs.

This review will then consider optical sensors, together with details of their basic principles, construction and operation. Relative advantages and disadvantages compared to electronic sensors will also be discussed. Current applications of anion sensors within the field will be described together with a forward view towards some possible future technologies and applications.