title: Silanization of glass in the making of ion-sensitive microelectrodes.
abstract: The silanization of glass, particularly Pyrex, was studied using reaction conditions that might be applied in the fabrication of ion-sensitive microelectrodes of the liquid-membrane type. The efficacy was tested by measuring the hydrophobicity (contact angle) or electrical resistivity of the treated surface. Aminosilanes, such as trimethyl-(dimethylamino)-silane are better than chlorosilanes, the optimum temperature is 250-330 degrees C, and the reaction comes near to completion in 5 min. Silanization of glass that is newly exposed (as in the pulling of a micropipette) is greatly improved if the surface is treated with acid. There is considerable variation from one kind of glass to another. A recipe for making double-barrelled ion-sensitive microelectrodes is given.
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D004573:Electrolytes / Q000378:metabolism; D007473:Ion Channels / Q000502:physiology*; D008564:Membrane Potentials; D008839:Microelectrodes; D009474:Neurons / Q000502:physiology; D009482:Neurophysiology / Q000295:instrumentation*; D012821:Silanes; D012825:Silicon
chemical_list: D004573:Electrolytes; D007473:Ion Channels; D012821:Silanes; D012825:Silicon