Electrochemical sensor

A method for sensing a presence of an ion species in a solution, the method comprising the steps of:

• a) exposing a solid-state electrolyte medium doped with an organometallic material to the solution, the organometallic material having an electrochemical affinity with the ion species;
• b) driving a pair of electrodes electrically contacting the solid-state electrolyte medium with an AC electrical excitation;
• and
• c) measuring at least one parameter related to a complex electrical impedance of said solid-state electrolyte medium in response to the AC electrical excitation, said at least one parameter being representative of the presence of the ion species in said solution when the solid-state electrolyte medium is exposed to the solution.

A sensing component for use in combination with an electrical circuit in an electrochemical ion sensor for sensing a presence of at least one an ion species in a solution, the sensing component comprising, for each of said at least one ion species:

• i) a solid-state electrolyte medium, doped with an organometallic material, the organometallic material having an electrochemical affinity with the ion species;
• ii) a pair of electrodes electrically contacting the solid-state electrolyte medium;
• and
• iii) a connecting interface electrically connected to the pair of electrodes and detachably connectable to the electrical circuit;
• whereby the pair of electrodes is drivable by the electrical circuit, when the connecting interface is connected thereto, with an AC electrical excitation to measure at least one parameter related to a complex electrical impedance of said doped solid-state electrolyte medium in response to the AC electrical excitation, said at least one parameter being representative of the presence of the ion species in said solution when the solid-state electrolyte medium is exposed to the solution.