Ion-Selective Electrode UV Stabilization via Insulating Membrane Additives

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional liquid membrane type ion-selective electrodes with high ultraviolet ray transmission base materials cause electrical voltage fluctuations in inner electrodes due to UV irradiation, which cannot be fully prevented by existing light-blocking covers during analysis.

Innovation Solution

Incorporating an ultraviolet absorber or reflecting agent with insulation properties into the ion-sensitive membrane, specifically using organic system pigments like quinacridon or perylene, to block UV rays and prevent electrical potential fluctuations in the inner electrode.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If a transparent resin with high ultraviolet transmission (such as polyvinyl chloride) is used as the base material of the ion-sensitive membrane, then the membrane performance is maintained, but electrical voltage fluctuation occurs in the inner electrode due to UV irradiation

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveion-sensitive membrane performanceVSAvoidultraviolet ray transmission
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

An ultraviolet absorber or reflecting agent with insulation properties is introduced as an intermediary substance into the ion-sensitive membrane. This intermediary blocks UV rays from reaching the inner electrode while maintaining the membrane's ion-sensitive functionality, thus resolving the contradiction between membrane performance and UV protection.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The ion-sensitive membrane is formulated as a composite material containing the transparent resin base material combined with an ultraviolet absorber or reflecting agent having insulation properties. This composite structure provides both the optical transparency needed for membrane performance and UV blocking capability to prevent electrode fluctuation.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #40Composite materials

2Object-affected harmful factors

If a light-blocking cover is used to prevent ultraviolet ray transmission, then UV protection is achieved, but the cover must be opened during analysis which cannot fully prevent voltage fluctuation

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveultraviolet ray blockingVSAvoidanalysis operation convenience
Core Design Contradiction:
Object-affected harmful factorsVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The ultraviolet protection function is merged directly into the ion-sensitive membrane by incorporating the ultraviolet absorber or reflecting agent. This integration eliminates the need for separate light-blocking covers, allowing continuous operation during analysis without opening packages, thus resolving the contradiction between UV protection and operational convenience.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

3Object-affected harmful factors

If an ultraviolet absorber or reflecting agent is contained in the ion-sensitive membrane, then UV-induced voltage fluctuation is prevented, but the membrane performance may be affected

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveultraviolet ray absorptionVSAvoidion-sensitive membrane performance
Core Design Contradiction:
Object-affected harmful factorsVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The key parameter change is selecting an ultraviolet absorber or reflecting agent that specifically possesses insulation properties. This parameter specification ensures that the UV-blocking substance does not interfere with the electrochemical processes in the membrane, maintaining ion-sensitive performance while providing UV protection.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

Solution Approach 2:

The ultraviolet absorber or reflecting agent is incorporated into the membrane matrix to provide localized UV protection at the molecular level throughout the membrane structure. This distributed local protection prevents UV transmission to the electrode while maintaining the membrane's overall ion-selective functionality.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

Applied Scientific Principles

This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.

Function Achieved in This Case

This approach effectively stabilizes the electric potential of the inner electrode, enabling high-accuracy analysis by preventing UV-induced voltage fluctuations, even with high UV-permeable base materials like polyvinyl chloride.

Implementation Method 1

the ion-sensitive membrane contains an ultraviolet absorber or an ultraviolet reflecting agent having an insulation property

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectUltraviolet absorption: Absorption (EM radiation)

Implementation Method 2

the ion-sensitive membrane contains an ultraviolet absorber or an ultraviolet reflecting agent having an insulation property

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectUltraviolet reflection: Reflection

Data Source

PatentEP2610613B1Liquid membrane type ion-selective electrode
Publication Date: 2015.11.18 HORIBA LTD
  • EP2610613B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP2610613B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP2610613B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

This invention relates to a liquid membrane type ion-selective electrode that can restrain an electric potential fluctuation of an inner electrode due to the ultraviolet rays and that can conduct an analysis with high accuracy The liquid membrane type ion-selective electrode comprises a liquid membrane type ion-sensitive membrane 15, 16 wherein a predetermined ionophore is supported by a base material, an inner electrode 26, 27 that has electrical conductivity and that is arranged at a position on which the light that has transmitted the ion-sensitive membrane 15, 16 is incident, an internal solution 14a, 14b that contains an electrolyte and that makes contact with the ion-sensitive membrane15, 16 and the inner electrode 26, 27, wherein the ion-sensitive membrane15, 16 contains an ultraviolet absorber or an ultraviolet reflecting agent having an insulation property