Potentiometric sensing utilizing paper-based microfluidic sampling

A new approach to potentiometric sensing utilizing paper-based microfluidic sampling is studied in this work. A solid-contact ion-selective electrode and a solid-contact reference electrode are pressed against a filter paper into which the sample solution is absorbed. The filter paper acts simultaneously as a sampling unit and as a sample container during potentiometric sensing. The paper substrates containing standard and sample solutions are disposable, while the sensors are used multiple times. The analytical method presented here opens new possibilities for economically and ecologically sound measurements of ions in various samples.