Abstract: A solid state electrode includes a metal electrode having a surface; a nanocomposite coated on at least a portion of the surface, the nanocomposite comprising a compound of the metal used in the electrode, and nanoparticles, a protein, a polymer, or one or more of nanoparticles, a protein, and polymer; wherein when the solid state electrode is in electrical connection with a working electrode and a fluid, the electrode can detect a change in chemical composition, for example, a change in pH of less than or equal to 0.1 pH units, and the potential of the solid state electrode is stable to within 5 millivolts, such as within 3 millivolts over a period of 20 minutes. The solid state electrode can be used in biosensing, environmental analysis (e.g., soil analysis, or water analysis), pharmaceutical analysis, and food analysis, for example.

Abstract: A sensor for detecting volatile materials comprising a working electrode having a surface; a reference electrode in electrical connection with the working electrode, the reference electrode comprising: a reference electrode surface; a nanocomposite coated on at least a portion of the reference electrode surface, the nanocomposite comprising: a compound of a metal used in the reference electrode, and nanoparticles, polymers, and proteins or a combination comprising at least one of the foregoing; and an ionic liquid in electrical connection with the reference electrode surface; wherein the electrical connection between the working electrode and the reference electrode is a solvent, or a conductive tape, or a solid polymer electrolyte; wherein when the sensor is exposed to an analyte, the sensor can generate an electrochemical signal; and wherein a surface of the working electrode or the conductive tape or the solid polymer electrolyte comprises carbon nanoparticles or a nanocomposite comprising carbon nanoparti

Abstract: The present invention relates to a hydrophilic surface structure of the non-hydrophilic substrate and the manufacturing method for using the same. The hydrophilic substrate surface structure is fabricated by forming an amphiphilic polymer layer, a cross-linked stacking layer, and a hydrophilic layer in sequence on the surface of a non-hydrophilic substrate. For example, the hydrophobic surface of poly(dimethylsiloxane) (PDMS) can be made from hydrophobic to hydrophilic and the hydrophilicity can be retained for a long period of time and resist protein adsorption. The hydrophilic thin films give long term stability to the PDMS surface by resisting hydrophobicity recovery, which is the major problem with PDMS. The disclosed method can further be used in the immobilization of protein and other molecules. This method can also be used for modifying other substrates which suffer problems of surface instability.