Highly sensitive and selective chloride polymeric membrane sensors are developed that employ Cu(II) complexes as anion carriers. Optimized membrane sensors showed a near-Nernstian response towards chloride anion over a wide concentration range of 2.5 x 10(-5) to 1.0 x 10(-1) M and have micromolar level detection limits. These sensors have fast response time and work well in the pH range of 4.2-9.6. They exhibited enhanced potentiometric selectivity for chloride over other anions, including more lipophilic anions such as perchlorate, thiocyanate, nitrate, etc. Response characteristics (e.g. detection limit, linear range, response slope and selectivity) of these sensors remain essentially the same over a period of similar to 5 months, reflecting remarkable stability. (c) 2006 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.