title: Applications of ionic liquids in electrochemical sensors.
abstract: Ionic liquids (ILs) are molten salts with the melting point close to or below room temperature. They are composed of two asymmetrical ions of opposite charges that only loosely fit together (usually bulky organic cations and smaller anions). The good solvating properties, high conductivity, non-volatility, low toxicity, large electrochemical window (i.e. the electrochemical potential range over which the electrolyte is neither reduced nor oxidized on electrodes) and good electrochemical stability, make ILs suitable for many applications. Recently, novel ion selective sensors, gas sensors and biosensors based on ILs have been developed. IL gels were found to have good biocompatibility with enzymes, proteins and even living cells. Besides a brief discussion of the properties of ILs and their general applications based on these properties, this review focuses on the application of ILs in electroanalytical sensors.
authors.affiliation: Process Chemistry Centre, c/o Laboratory of Analytical Chemistry, Abo Akademi University, Biskopsgatan 8, FI-20500 Turku/Abo, Finland.
authors.forename: Di
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Wei
authors.forename: Ari
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Ivaska
mesh_terms: D015374:Biosensing Techniques / Q000295:instrumentation*; D004563:Electrochemistry / Q000295:instrumentation* / Q000379:methods; D005782:Gels / Q000737:chemistry; D007093:Imidazoles / Q000737:chemistry; D007477:Ions / Q000737:chemistry*; D037742:Nanotubes, Carbon / Q000737:chemistry; D000644:Quaternary Ammonium Compounds / Q000737:chemistry
chemical_list: D005782:Gels; D007093:Imidazoles; D007477:Ions; D037742:Nanotubes, Carbon; D000644:Quaternary Ammonium Compounds