Designing a water-quality monitor with ion selective electrodes

This effort is directed at developing a sensor for evaluating water quality. A set of nine ion selective electrodes (ISEs) are being fabricated on a 4.5-cm diameter ceramic substrate. This paper discusses the design and fabrication of the deposition chamber and the ceramic substrates that form the basis for the ISEs. The chamber, substrate and electronics design was validated to assure that the multiplexing electronics functions, the ceramic substrate mounted is stress-free, and the deposition chamber is water tight. Results from the electrolysis of a dilute nitric acid solution are presented to further validate the design concept.