ISSN print edition: 0366-6352 ISSN electronic edition: 1336-9075 Registr. No.: MK SR 9/7 Published monthly

A sensitive and selective electrochemical sensor for the simultaneous determination of trace Cd²⁺ and Pb²⁺

Jinbang Mei, Zhihua Ying, Wei Sheng, Jie Chen, Junming Xu, and Peng Zheng

College of Electronics and Information, Hangzhou Dianzi University, Hangzhou, People’s Republic of China

E-mail: yingzh@hdu.edu.cn

Received: 25 April 2019  Accepted: 17 September 2019

Abstract:

A neoteric sensor for the detection of Cd²⁺ and Pb²⁺ has been investigated. The sensor was investigated based on a glutathione/gold nanoparticles/amino-reduced graphene oxide (GSH/AuNPs/NH₂-rGO) nanocomposite, which was decorated on a polished glassy carbon electrode. The characterization analysis of the nanocomposite was performed with scanning electron microscopy, electrochemical techniques, and FTIR. The results indicated that GSH/AuNPs/NH₂-rGO/GCE exhibited excellent analytical performance in detecting Cd²⁺ and Pb²⁺ owing to its large surface area, numerous functional groups, and good electrical conductivity. Under optimized experimental conditions, the stripping peak currents were linear with the concentrations of Cd²⁺ and Pb²⁺ in the scope of 1–120 μg/L with the detection limits of 0.09 μg/L for Cd²⁺ and 0.38 μg/L for Pb²⁺ (S/N = 3). Also, the electrochemical sensor displayed excellent selectivity and reproducibility. Hence, this research revealed that GSH/AuNPs/NH₂-rGO nanocomposite was a promising sensing material for the detection of Cd²⁺ and Pb²⁺.

Keywords: Nanocomposites; Simultaneous detection; Heavy metal ions; Sensor

Full paper is available at www.springerlink.com.

DOI: 10.1007/s11696-019-00942-3

Chemical Papers 74 (3) 1027–1037 (2020)