Novel potentiometric and optical silver ion-selective sensors with subnanomolar detection limits.

Ten Ag+-selective ionophores have been characterized in terms of their potentiometric selectivities and complex formation constants in solvent polymeric membranes. The compounds with pi-coordination show much weaker interactions than those with thioether or thiocarbamate groups as the coordinating sites. Long-term studies with the best ionophores show that the lower detection limit of the best Ag+ sensors can be maintained in the subnanomolar range for at least 1 month. The best ionophores have also been characterized in fluorescent microspheres. The so far best lower detection limits of 3 x 10(-11) M (potentiometrically) and 2 x 10(-11) M Ag+ (optically) are found with bridged thiacalixarenes.