A high-performance pH-sensitive electrode integrated with a multi-sensing probe for online water quality monitoring

Abstract

Water quality monitoring is an essential tool in effective environmental and public health protection. This study presents a new screen-printed Co₂O₃–RuO₂-based electrode for electrochemical pH sensing and its comprehensive morphological, compositional, potentiometric, and thermal characterization. This novel electrode is used to measure the pH of different types of environmental water (river, lake, and sea) in Poland and the pH along the water column of a lake in Germany using an underwater multi-sensor probe, the development and demonstration of which are also described. The thick film pH electrode exhibits super-Nernstian sensitivity of 70.6 ± 2.2 mV pH⁻¹, a short response time of 2–13 s, and a stable response in media with a conductivity of up to 118 mS cm⁻¹ at temperatures ranging from −2 to 60 °C in the pH range 1–13. The electrodes have a high level of accuracy in comparison to the commercial glass electrodes, which they maintain over a period of 3 years. The superior potentiometric characteristics such as high sensitivity, selectivity, stability, and undisturbed sensing under extreme conditions are among the significant advantages of the developed miniaturized and low-cost pH-sensing electrode. The developed underwater probe is portable, rechargeable, submersible, autonomous, provides significant water data, and does not require scientific staff for operation.