Novel Silver(I) Ion Selective PVC Membrane Electrode Based on the Schiff Base (N²E,N^2'E)-N²,N^2'-Bis(Thiophen-2-ylmethylene)-1,1'-Binaphthyl-2,2'-Diamine

A potentiometric sensor based on the Schiff base $(N^2E,N^{2'}E)-N^2,N^{2'}$-bis(thiophen-2-ylmethylene)-1,1'-binaphthl-2,2'-diamine has been synthesized and explored as an ionophore PVC-based membrane sensor selective for the silver ($Ag^+$) ion. Potentiometric investigations indicate a high affinity of this receptor for the silver ion. Seven membranes have been fabricated with different compositions, with the best performance shown by the membrane with an ionophore composition (w/w) of: 1.0 mg, PVC: 33.0 mg, DOA: 66.0 mg in 1.0 mL THF. The sensor worked well within a wide concentration range of $1.0{\times}10^{-2}$ to $1.0{\times}10^{-7}$ M, at pH 5, at room temperature (slope 57.4 mV/dec.), and with a rapid response time of 9 s; the sensor also showed good selectivity towards the silver ion over a huge number of interfering cations, with the highest selectivity coefficient for $Hg^{2+}$ at -3.7. Thus far, the best lower detection limit was $4.0{\times}10^{-8}$ M.