The response characteristics of a new potentiometric membrane electrode with unique selectivity towards thiocyanate ion were reported. The electrode was prepared by incorporating bis-taurine-salicylic binuclear copper(Ⅱ) complex into a plasticized PVC-membrane. The resulting electrode exhibits anti-Hofmeister selectivity sequence: SCN->I-> ClO4- >Sal-> NO3- > NO2- >Br->Cl-> SO3- > SO42- and a near-Nernstian potential linear range for thiocyanate from 1.0×10-1 to 1.0× 10-6 mol·L-1 with a detection limit of 8.0× 10-7 mol·L-1 and a slope of - 56.5 mV/PCSCN- in phosphate buffer solution of pH 5.0 at 20 ℃. The UV/Vis spectra, IR spectroscopy and AC impedance studies showed that the excellent selectivity to thiocyanate was related to the unique interaction between the central metal and the analyte and a steric effect associated with the structure of the carrier. The electrode was successfully applied to the determination of thiocyanate in waste water and human urine samples.
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