Electrochemical sensors for the simultaneous determination of zinc,cadmium and lead using a Nafion/ionic liquid/graphene composite modified screen-printed carbon electrode

A simple, low cost, and highly sensitive electrochemical sensor, based on a Nafion/ionic liquid/graphene composite modified screen-printed carbon electrode (N/IL/G/SPCE) was developed to determine zinc (Zn(II)), cadmium (Cd(II)), and lead (Pb(II)) simultaneously. This disposable electrode shows excellent conductivity and fast electron transfer kinetics. By in situ plating with a bismuth film (BiF), the developed electrode exhibited well-defined and separate peaks for Zn(II), Cd(II), and Pb(II) by square wave anodic stripping voltammetry (SWASV). Analytical characteristics of the BiF/N/IL/G/SPCE were explored with calibration curves which were found to be linear for Zn(II), Cd(II), and Pb(II) concentrations over the range from 0.1 to 100.0 ng L⁻¹. With an accumulation period of 120 s detection limits of 0.09 ng mL⁻¹, 0.06 ng L⁻¹ and 0.08 ng L⁻¹ were obtained for Zn(II), Cd(II) and Pb(II), respectively using the BiF/N/IL/G/SPCE sensor, calculated as 3σ value of the blank. In addition, the developed electrode displayed a good repeatability and reproducibility. The interference from other common ions associated with Zn(II), Cd(II) and Pb(II) detection could be effectively avoided. Finally, the proposed analytical procedure was applied to detect the trace metal ions in drinking water samples with satisfactory results which demonstrates the suitability of the BiF/N/IL/G/SPCE to detect heavy metals in water samples and the results agreed well with those obtained by inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry.     

Reduced Graphene Oxide Impregnated Antimony Nanoparticle Sensor for Electroanalysis of Platinum Group Metals

A very sensitive electrochemical sensor based on a reduced graphene oxide film impregnated with antimony nanoparticles was prepared and applied to the electroanalysis of platinum group metal ions of Pd(II), Pt(II) and Rh(III). The electrochemical behavior of platinum group metals at the modified electrode was studied by adsorptive differential pulse cathodic stripping voltammetry in the presence of dimethylglyoxime as chelating agent. Several operational parameters were optimised to enhance the electroanalytical performance of the modified glassy carbon electrode sensor. The results showed sharp stripping peaks and a relatively constant peak potential with a good linear behaviour in the examined concentration range from 40 to 400 pg L^?1 for all metal ions investigated. The detection limit was found to be 0.45, 0.49 and 0.49 pg L^?1 (S/N=3) for Pd(II), Pt(II) and Rh(III), respectively. The developed electrochemical sensor also exhibited good precision with a relative standard deviation of 4.2 %, 2.55 % and 2.67 % for 5 successive measurements for Pd(II), Pt(II) and Rh(III), respectively. The proposed nanostructure showed good sensitivity and stability, which has promising potential applications in electrochemical sensors.     

A Novel Cell Design for the Improved Stripping Voltammetric Detection of Zn(II), Cd(II), and Pb(II) on Commercial Screen‐Printed Strips by Bismuth Codeposition in Stirred Solutions

A novel electrochemical cell design is proposed to allow fast, reproducible and highly efficient convective transport of dissolved substances to screen‐printed electrochemical three‐electrode strips mounted on miniaturized plastic vessels, with the goal of improving detection limits in disposable electrochemical stripping field sensors. The experimental configuration has been tested for accumulation of the selected heavy metals ions Zn(II), Cd(II), and Pb(II), codeposited with bismuth ions on a carbon disk screen‐printed working electrode before detection by square wave anodic stripping voltammetry. Chemical and instrumental variables of the proposed device and associate electrochemical method were optimized. Selected parameters gave detection limits in the low ng mL^?1 range with moderate deposition time (120 s). Practical applicability was tested on certified water and real samples (tap water and waste water), with acceptable results, suggesting potential usefulness for field environmental monitoring of heavy metals.     

Long‐life Heavy Metal Ions Sensor Based on Graphene Oxide‐anchored Conducting Polymer

A long‐life electrochemical sensor for the continuous analysis of heavy metal ions (Zn(II), Cd(II), Pb(II), Cu(II), and Hg(II)) was developed using the graphene oxide (GO) anchored‐functionalized polyterthiophene (poly[3′‐(2‐aminopyrimidyl)‐2,2′:5′,2′′‐terthiophene], polyPATT) composite. The PATT monomer was synthesized and polymerized with GO to form the composite using a potential cycling method, followed by Nafion coating. The modified sensor surface was characterized employing electrochemical and surface analysis methods. Experimental variables affecting the analytical performance were optimized. Interference effects of other metal ions having similar redox potentials were also investigated. The performance of chronocoulometry (CC) without predeposition was compared with the results of square wave anodic stripping voltammetry (SWASV) with predeposition. The dynamic range of CC for the target ions were between 1 ppb and 10 ppm, respectively with the detection limits between 0.05 (±0.05) and 0.20 (±0.15) ppb for the CC method without predeposition, and between 0.08 (±0.05) and 0.30 (±0.12) ppb for the SWASV with 300 sec of deposition time (n=3 ). The reliability of the method was evaluated by continuously analysing environmental water samples using a single sensor probe in a flow system for 93 days.     

Highly Selective and Sensitive Electrochemical Determination of Ni(II) in Real Samples Based on Ion‐imprinted Polymer Technology

Nickel is one of the heavy metals which has been considered as a serious pollutant affecting the human health. Therefore, it is necessary to control its concentration in foods and drinks. Recently, ion‐imprinted polymer based electrochemical sensors have been attracted lots of attention due to their valuable selectivity and sensitivity toward target analytes. In this study, Ni(II)‐1,10‐phenanthroline complex was prepared in ethanol and added stepwise to the aqueous solution of dopamine, followed by pH adjustment for self‐polymerization of dopamine in alkaline conditions. During the polymerization process, Ni(II)‐imprinted polydopamine (Ni‐PDA) was formed due to effective interactions between polydopamine and 1,10‐phenanthroline ligands carrying Ni(II) ions. A thin film of Ni‐PDA was anchored on a glassy carbon electrode (GCE) through a simple casting procedure. After drying, the sensor was employed for the determination of Ni(II) ions by means of differential pulse voltammetry. Under optimum conditions, a linear calibration curve was obtained in the range 1–25 μM with the detection limit of 0.39 μM (S/N=3). Due to excellent selectivity to Ni(II) ions, the sensor was not suffered from the excess amount of interfering ions and used for Ni(II) determination in different water and tea samples.     

Direct detection of Pb in urine and Cd, Pb, Cu, and Ag in natural waters using electrochemical sensors immobilized with DMSA functionalized magnetic nanoparticles

Urine is universally recognized as one of the best non-invasive matrices for biomonitoring exposure to a broad range of xenobiotics, including toxic metals. Detection of metal ions in urine has been problematic due to the protein competition and electrode fouling. For direct, simple, and field-deployable monitoring of urinary Pb, electrochemical sensors employing superparamagnetic iron oxide (Fe3O4) nanoparticles with a surface functionalization of dimercaptosuccinic acid (DMSA) has been developed. The metal detection involves rapid collection of dispersed metal-bound nanoparticles from a sample solution at a magnetic or electromagnetic electrode, followed by the stripping voltammetry of the metal in acidic medium. The sensors were evaluated as a function of solution pH, the binding affinity of Pb to DMSA-Fe3O4, the ratio of nanoparticles per sample volume, preconcentration time, and Pb concentrations. The effect of binding competitions between the DMSA-Fe3O4 and urine constituents for Pb on the sensor responses was studied. After 90 s of preconcentration in samples containing 25 vol.% of rat urine and 0.1 g L(-1) of DMSA-Fe3O4, the sensor could detect background level of Pb (0.5 ppb) and yielded linear responses from 0 to 50 ppb of Pb, excellent reproducibility (%RSD of 5.3 for seven measurements of 30 ppb Pb), and Pb concentrations comparable to those measured by ICP-MS. The sensor could also simultaneously detect background levels (<1 ppb) of Cd, Pb, Cu, and Ag in river and seawater.     

纳米氧化铜修饰的苯巴比妥分子印迹传感器的制备及其电化学性能

为了改善分子印迹传感器的灵敏度,在四丁基高氯酸铵的支持电解质溶液中,以甲基丙烯酸为功能单体,马来松香丙烯酸乙二醇酯为交联剂在纳米氧化铜修饰过的玻碳电极上电聚合了一种苯巴比妥(PB)识别性能的分子印迹传感膜.采用循环伏安(CV)法、差分脉冲伏安(DPV)法及交流阻抗(EIS)法对这种纳米氧化铜修饰过的印迹及非印迹电极的电化学性能进行了研究,结果显示纳米氧化铜修饰过的印迹及非印迹电极的电化学性能完全不同.X射线衍射(XRD)证实纳米粒子为氧化铜.采用扫描电镜(SEM)对纳米氧化铜修饰过的印迹传感器的形貌进行分析,发现纳米氧化铜分散在电极表面,改善了修饰印迹传感器的识别点.差分脉冲伏安法(DPV)表明苯巴比妥的浓度在1.0×10-8-1.8×10-4mol·L-1范围内呈现良好的线性关系(线性相关系数R=0.9994);检出限2.3×10-9mol·L-1(信噪比(S/N)=3).研究结果表明纳米氧化铜修饰过的印迹传感器具有较高灵敏度及选择性.此印迹传感器能用于实际样品中苯巴比妥的检测,加标回收率在95.0%-102.5%.     

Graphene Oxide‐Modified Electrode Coated with in‐situ Antimony Film for the Simultaneous Determination of Heavy Metals by Sequential Injection‐Anodic Stripping Voltammetry

The proposed chemically modified electrode was graphene oxide that was synthesized via Hummer's method followed by reduction of antimony film by in‐situ electrodeposition. The experimental process could be concluded in three main steps: preparation of antimony film, reduction of analyte ions on the electrode surface and stripping step under the conditions of square wave anodic stripping voltammetry (SWASV). A simple and rapid approach was developed for the determination of heavy metals simultaneously based on a sequential injection (SI), an automated flow‐based system, coupled with voltammetric method using antimony‐graphene oxide modified screen‐printed carbon electrode (SbF‐GO‐SPCE). The effects of main parameters involved with graphene oxide, antimony and measurement parameters were also investigated. Using SI‐SWASV under the optimal conditions, the proposed electrode platform has exhibited linear range from 0.1 to 1.5 M. Calculated limits of detection were 0.054, 0.026, 0.060, and 0.066 μM for Cd(II), Pb(II), Cu(II) and Hg(II), respectively. In addition, the optimized method has been successfully applied to determine heavy metals in real water samples with acceptable accuracy of 94.29 – 113.42 % recovery.     

纳米氧化铜修饰的苯巴比妥分子印迹传感器的制备及其电化学性能

为了改善分子印迹传感器的灵敏度, 在四丁基高氯酸铵的支持电解质溶液中, 以甲基丙烯酸为功能单体, 马来松香丙烯酸乙二醇酯为交联剂在纳米氧化铜修饰过的玻碳电极上电聚合了一种苯巴比妥(PB)识别性能的分子印迹传感膜. 采用循环伏安(CV)法、差分脉冲伏安(DPV)法及交流阻抗(EIS)法对这种纳米氧化铜修饰过的印迹及非印迹电极的电化学性能进行了研究, 结果显示纳米氧化铜修饰过的印迹及非印迹电极的电化学性能完全不同. X射线衍射(XRD)证实纳米粒子为氧化铜. 采用扫描电镜(SEM)对纳米氧化铜修饰过的印迹传感器的形貌进行分析, 发现纳米氧化铜分散在电极表面, 改善了修饰印迹传感器的识别点. 差分脉冲伏安法(DPV)表明苯巴比妥的浓度在1.0×10^-8-1.8×10^-4 mol·L^-1 范围内呈现良好的线性关系(线性相关系数R=0.9994); 检出限2.3×10^-9 mol·L^-1 (信噪比(S/N)=3). 研究结果表明纳米氧化铜修饰过的印迹传感器具有较高灵敏度及选择性. 此印迹传感器能用于实际样品中苯巴比妥的检测, 加标回收率在95.0%-102.5%.     

Individual and Simultaneous Voltammetric Determination of Cd(II), Cu(II) and Pb(II) Applying Amino Functionalized Fe3O4@Carbon Microspheres Modified Electrode

Amino‐functionalized Fe₃O₄@carbon microspheres (NH₂?Fe₃O₄@C) were prepared and the electrochemical sensor was constructed using NH₂?Fe₃O₄@C modified glassy carbon electrodes (GCE) to determine toxic heavy metals in aqueous solution. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), X‐ray diffraction (XRD) and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) were used to characterize the structure and phase of NH₂?Fe₃O₄@C. Cyclic voltammetry (CV) and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) results indicate that NH₂?Fe₃O₄@C modified GCE possesses large active area and excellent electron transfer. Under optimized electrochemical condition, Cd(II), Pb(II) and Cu(II) were determined using NH₂?Fe₃O₄@C modified GCE. The electrode through amino functionalization exhibits higher sensitivity and lower detection limit toward Cd(II) and Cu(II) due to the acid‐base pairing interaction between the electron‐rich ?NH₂ ligand and the electron‐deficient heavy metal ions. Compared with other similar results reported in the literature, the NH₂?Fe₃O₄@C modified electrode exhibits wider linear response range while with comparable lower detection limit. It also exhibits excellent stability, reproducibility and anti‐interference ability.     

Detection of As(III) via oxidation to As(V) using platinum nanoparticle modified glassy carbon electrodes: arsenic detection without interference from copper

The electrochemical detection of As(III) was investigated on a platinum nanoparticle modified glassy carbon electrode in 1 M aqueous HClO4. Platinum nanoparticle modified glassy carbon electrodes were prepared by potential cycling in 0.1 M aqueous KCl containing 1 mM K2PtCl6. In each potential cycle, the potential was held at + 0.5 V for 0.01 s and at -0.7 V for 10 s. 25 cycles were optimally used to prepare the electrodes. The resulting electrode surfaces were characterized with AFM. The response to arsenic(III) on the modified electrode was examined using cyclic voltammetry and linear sweep voltammetry. By using the As(III) oxidation peak for the analytical determination, there is no interference from Cu(II) if present in contrast to the other metal surfaces (especially gold) typically used for the detection of arsenic; Cu(II) precludes the use of the As(0) to As(III) peak for quantitative anodic stripping voltammetry measurements due to the formation of Cu3As2 and an overlapping interference peak from the stripping of Cu(0). After optimization, a LOD of 2.1 +/- 0.05 ppb was obtained using the direct oxidation of As(III) to As(V), while the World Health Organization's guideline value of arsenic for drinking water is 10 ppb, suggesting the method may have practical utility.     

A Sensitive Electrochemical Approach for Melamine Detection Using a Disposable Screen Printed Carbon Electrode

We report here a simple and easy electrochemical approach for sensitive detection of non‐electroactive melamine using a disposable screen printed carbon electrode (SPCE) with uric acid as the recognition element. It is based on the competitive adsorptive behavior of melamine at the preanodized SPCE causing suppression in the oxidation current of uric acid. A linear range up to 126 ppb with a detection limit of 1.6 ppb (S/N=3) is achieved at the preanodized SPCE by differential pulse voltammetry. The electrochemical method is successfully applied to detect the melamine content in tainted milk powder and dog food.     

Polyfurfural-Electrochemically Reduced Graphene Oxide Modified Glassy Carbon Electrode for the Direct Determination of Nitrofurazone

An electrochemical sensor based on a polyfurfural-electrochemically reduced graphene oxide modified glassy carbon electrode has been developed for the sensitive and rapid determination of nitrofurazone. The morphologies and properties of the sensor were characterized by electrochemical impedance spectroscopy, scanning electron microscopy, cyclic voltammetry, and differential pulse voltammetry (DPV). In pH 7.0 Britton–Robinson buffer solution, the as-prepared polyfurfural-electrochemically reduced graphene oxide modified glassy carbon electrode shows excellent electrocatalytic performance for the electrochemical reduction of nitrofurazone, and the reduction peak current is about 9.45, 1.31, and 1.25 times higher than that of the bare glassy carbon electrode, polyfurfural modified glassy carbon electrode, and electrochemically reduced graphene oxide modified glassy carbon electrode, respectively. The DPV determination of nitrofurazone indicates that the linear range and detection limit of nitrofurazone are 1–50 and 0.25?µmol/dm³, respectively. In addition, this sensor exhibits high selectivity, reproducibility, stability, and also was successfully used to directly determine nitrofurazone in the commercial antibacterial lotion with comparative sensitivity to high-performance liquid chromatography, showing its promising application prospects.     

Kaolinite-based Hybrid Material from Interlayer Grafting of 1-(2-Hydroxyethyl)piperazine and Application to the Sensitive Voltammetric Detection of Lead

This work describes the synthesis of an organo-inorganic hybrid material and its application as low-cost electrode material for the electrochemical detection of trace levels of lead in contaminated water. The organo-inorganic hybrid material was obtained by the grafting of 1-(2-hydroxyethylpiperazine) (HEP) in the interlayer space of a natural kaolinite (K). The obtained organokaolinite (K-HEP) was characterized by XRD, FTIR and TGA-DTG techniques. XRD results in particular showed that the structure of the pristine kaolinite was not affected during the synthesis of K-HEP. It was also noticed from ¹³C NMR data that the structure of HEP was preserved during the synthesis process. Taking into account the affinity of the amine group on HEP molecule for lead ions, K-HEP was used to modify the surface of glassy carbon electrode (GCE) (GCE/K-HEP) in order to build a sensor for lead detection. The peak current of Pb(II) recorded on GCE/K-HEP was more intense compared to the signal recorded on bare GCE, and on natural kaolinite film modified GCE. Several parameters that can affect the stripping response were systematically investigated to optimize the sensitivity of the organokaolinite film modified electrode. Under optimized conditions, a calibration curve was obtained in the concentration range from 8.29 to 116.03 ppb; with a detection limit of 0.25 ppb (S/N=3). After the study of some interfering species on the electrochemical response of Pb(II), the developed sensor was successfully applied to the quantification of the same pollutant in tap water and spring water samples.     

Electrochemical Properties of Ag@iron Oxide Nanocomposite for Application as Nitrate Sensor

Ag@iron oxide nanocomposite powders were synthesized via a two‐step chemical method. Characterization by UV‐Vis, XRD, SEM‐EDX and TEM revealed they are composed of nanosized crystalline silver particles in strict contact with amorphous iron oxide(s). The electrochemical behavior of the synthesized Ag@iron oxide composite was investigated by cyclic voltammetry. Compared with the single phase‐modified electrodes, the Ag@iron oxide/SPCE electrode exhibits an enhanced cathodic current in response to the target analyte, due to a synergistic effect between Ag crystallites and amorphous iron oxide nanoparticles. An amperometric sensor for detection of nitrate based on Ag@iron oxide modified screen‐printed electrode (Ag@iron oxide/SPCE) has been fabricated, showing a good sensitivity (663 µA mM^?1 cm^?2) and a detection limit of 30 µM.     

Carbon Nanotubes Based Nanoelectrode Arrays: Fabrication,Evaluation, and Application in Voltammetric Analysis

Fabrication, electrochemical characterization, and applications of low‐site density carbon nanotubes based nanoelectrode arrays (CNTs‐NEAs) are reported in this work. Spin‐coating of an epoxy resin provides a new way to create the electrode passivation layer effectively reducing electrode capacitance and current leakage. Cyclic voltammetry showed the sigmoidal shape curves with low capacitive current and scan‐rate‐independent limiting current. Square‐wave voltammetry showed well‐defined peak shapes in voltammograms of K₃Fe(CN)₆ and 4‐acetamidophenol (acetaminophen) and the peak currents to be proportioned to their concentrations, demonstrating the feasibility for voltammetric analysis of the CNTs‐NEAs. The CNTs‐NEAs were also used successfully for voltammetric detection of trace concentrations of lead(II) at ppb level at first‐time. The CNTs‐NEAs provide an excellent platform for ultra sensitive electrochemical sensors for chemical and biological sensing.     

Copper‐based Metal‐organic Framework for Non‐enzymatic Electrochemical Detection of Glucose

A non‐enzymatic electrochemical glucose sensor based on a Cu‐based metal‐organic framework (Cu‐MOF) modified electrode was developed. The Cu‐MOF was prepared by a simple ionothermal synthesis, and the characterizations of the Cu‐MOF were studied by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT‐IR), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), single‐crystal X‐ray powder diffraction (SCXRD), and X‐ray powder diffraction (XRD). Electrochemical behaviors of the Cu‐MOF modified electrode to glucose were measured by differential pulse voltammetry (DPV). The electrochemical results showed that the Cu‐MOF modified electrode exhibited an excellent electro‐catalytic oxidation towards glucose in the range of 0.06 μM to 5 mM with a sensitivity of 89 μA/mM cm² and a detection limit of 10.5 nM. Moreover, the fabricated sensor showed a high selectivity to the oxidation of glucose in coexistence with other interferences. The sensor was satisfactorily applied to the determination of glucose in urine samples. With the significant electrochemical performances, MOFs may provide a suitable platform in the construction of kinds of electrochemical sensors and/or biosensors and hold a great promise for sensing applications.     

纳米银/石墨烯修饰电极测定青蒿素

本文建立一种新型的青蒿素传感器。首先,在玻碳电极上滴涂氧化石墨,通过电化学方法将氧化石墨还原为石墨烯,然后,在石墨烯上沉积纳米银得到石墨烯/纳米银修饰电极,它作为检测青蒿素的电化学传感器。用此电极对青蒿素进行测定,并通过循环伏安法、差分脉冲伏安法、交流阻抗法等研究其电化学行为。该修饰电极在测定青蒿素溶液时,表现出较正的还原电位和较大的峰电流等优势;对其实验条件如电解质溶液的p H、应用电势等进行了探查,该电化学传感器在青蒿素溶液浓度范围为1.0×10-8~3.0×10-5mol/L时与其还原峰电流呈现良好的线性关系,最低检出限为1.2×10-9mol/L(S/N=3)。此外,对该传感器的稳定性和重现性等也进行了研究,获得令人满意的结果。     

Direct determination of cadmium and lead in pharmaceutical ingredients using anodic stripping voltammetry in aqueous and DMSO/water solutions

A new electrochemical method has been developed to detect and quantify the elemental impurities, cadmium(II) (Cd²⁺) and lead(II) (Pb²⁺), either simultaneously or individually in pharmaceutical matrices. The electro-analytical approach, involving the use of anodic stripping voltammetry (ASV) on an unmodified glassy carbon electrode, was performed in both aqueous and in a 95/5 dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO)/water solutions, without acid digestion or dry ashing to remove organic matrices. Limits of detection (LODs) in the μg L⁻¹ [or parts per billion (ppb), mass/volume] range were obtained for both heavy metals - in the presence and absence of representative pharmaceutical components. To the best of our knowledge, the work demonstrates the first analysis of heavy metals in DMSO/water solutions through ASV. The strong reproducibility and stability of the sensing platform, as well as obviation of sample pretreatment show the promise of utilizing ASV as a sensitive, robust, and inexpensive alternative to inductively-coupled-plasma (ICP)-based approaches for the analysis of elemental impurities in, e.g., pharmaceutical-related matrices.     

β‐Cyclodextrin Incorporated Carbon Nanotube Paste Electrode as Electrochemical Sensor for Nifedipine

In this work a carbon paste electrode modified with multiwalled carbon nanotubes/β‐cyclodextrin (MWCNTs/β‐CD) was constructed and applied to the determination of nifedipine. The electrochemical behavior of nifedipine at this electrode was investigated using cyclic voltammetry and differential pulse voltammetry. Characterization of the modified electrode was conducted with electrochemical impedance spectroscopy and scanning electron microscopy. After adsorption of nifedipine on the MWCNTs/β‐CD paste electrode at 0.0 V for 6 min, a well defined reduction peak was produced in sodium hydroxide of 0.05 M. The calibration curve was linear from 7.0×10^?8 to 1.5×10^?5 M. The detection limit was obtained as 2.5×10^?8 M. The results demonstrated that this electrochemical sensor has excellent sensitivity and selectivity. This sensor was applied for determination of nifedipine in drug dosage and blood serum with excellent recoveries.