Several systems are presented for detection of nerve gases, Sarin and Soman, based on catalyzed decomposition of nerve gases by copper ion-ligand chelates and potentiometric detection of the byproduct, fluoride ion. Diisopropyl fluorophosphate (DFP) was used as the nerve gas mimic. It was found that 1:1 Cu(II)-DMBP (4,4'-dimethyl-2,2'-bipyridyl) and 1:2 Cu(II)-TMEDA (N,N,N',N'-tetramethylethylenediamine) chelates were the most effective catalysts for accelerating the decomposition of DFP. With a response time of about 5 min and a potential drop of 30-50 mV, the detection limit for DFP is 2 x 10(-6) M. This method is sensitive, selective, and reproducible. (C) 2001 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.