A new way of synthesis nanohybrid cation‐exchanger applicable for membrane electrode

A novel polymeric composite namely, PANI‐PW/Ag (silver doped polyaniline phosphotungstate) was expediently obtained by sol‐gel method. PANI‐PW/Ag was characterized by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, X‐ray powder diffraction, UV–vis spectrophotometry, scanning electron microscopy, and thermogravimertic analysis. On the basis of ion exchange capacity and distribution studies, PANI‐PW/Ag, highly selective and sensitive to Cu(II), was used for the preparation of ion selective membrane for Cu(II). The electrode exhibits good potentiometric response for Cu(II) over a wide concentration range (1.0 × 10⁻¹−5.0 × 10⁻⁶ mol) with Nernstian slope of 27.8 mV per decade. Response time of the electrode is 9 s and it could be used for a period of 3 month and exhibits good selectivity toward Cu²⁺ in comparison to alkali, alkaline earth, transition, and heavy metal ions, with no interference caused by other heavy metals. POLYM. COMPOS., 35:1436–1443, 2014. © 2013 Society of Plastics Engineers