Sol–gel synthesis and characterization of conducting polythiophene/tin phosphate nano tetrapod composite cation-exchanger and its application as Hg(II) selective membrane electrode

Nano tetrapod based on conducting polythiophene (PTh) and tin-phosphate (SnP) were synthesized by in situ chemical oxidative polymerization. The morphology of the resulting polythiophene tinphosphate composite was characterized by elemental analysis, fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, thermogravimetric analysis, powder X-ray diffraction, scanning electron microscopy and transmission electron microscopy. The physico-chemical characterization carried out on the composite showed that SnP was modified by conducting PTh with an enhancement of various properties. On the basis of highest distribution coefficient values for Hg(II), the composite was also used for the preparation of Hg(II) selective membrane electrode. The electrode showed working concentration range of 1 × 10 −1 to 1 × 10 −7 with Nernstian slope of 29.29 mV per decade change in concentration and the electrode may be used for wide working pH range of 4–8 having quick response time about 23 s. The life of electrode is 4 months without any notable drift in potential.