An electrochemical approach to quantification of volatile organic solvents dispersed in solution – towards bipolar electrode sensors

A novel approach to electrochemical determination of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) suspended in a solution is proposed. This approach benefits from properties of capacitors linked in series, where the total capacitance is affected by analyte induced changes. A tailor designed hydrophobic PVDF membrane modified with polyoctylthiophene used in this arrangement played a role of a bipolar electrode. The presence of water immiscible liquid VOCs results in spontaneous formation of a thin film on the surface of the hydrophobic polymer membrane and dissolution of modifying particulates. This effect leads to change of electrical parameters of the system: capacitance and resistance dependent on amount of VOCs present in the aqueous phase.