A new type of light-addressable potentiometric sensor (LAPS) has been developed by elaboration of photocurable ion-sensitive membranes based on matrices of mono- and diacrylates in combination with a silicon-based electrochemical transducer for the purposes of chemical and biochemical analyses. The characteristics of the elaborated K-, Li-, Cs-, Ca- and Mg-LAPS are presented to indicate the potential of the technology developed. For example, the sensitivities of the K- and Li-LAPS were found to be 58 +/- 1 mV/pK and 59 +/- 1 mV/pLi, respectively, over concentration ranges of 10(-5)-10(-1) mol/l. The detection limits were evaluated to be 2 x 10(-6) mol/l of the primary ion. (C) 2002 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.