Durable nitrate-selective chemically modified field effect transistors based on new polysiloxane membranes

Polysiloxane copolymers with different amounts and types of substituents have been synthesized and characterized. Polar substituents determine the polarity and methacrylate groups allow cross-linking and covalent binding of electroactive species. These chemically well-defined homogeneous polymers have been applied as ion-selective membrane material in nitrate-selective field effect transistors (CHEMFETs). The selectivity of the CHEMFETs is influenced by the nature of the polar substituents in the polymer. The incorporation of methacrylate moieties in the polysiloxane allows covalent attachment of quaternary ammonium sites to the membrane matrix and this enlarges the durability of the sensor.