Detection of Trace Heavy Metal Ions Using Carbon Nanotube‐ Modified Electrodes

A sensitive voltammetric method for detection of trace heavy metal ions using chemically modified carbon nanotubes (CNTs) electrode surfaces is described. The CNTs were covalently modified with cysteine prior to casting on electrode surfaces. Cysteine is an amino acid with high affinities towards some heavy metals. In this assay, heavy metals ions accumulated on the cysteine‐modified CNT electrode surfaces prior to being subjected to differential pulse anodic stripping voltammetry analysis. The resulting peak currents were linearly related to the concentrations of the metal ions. The method was optimized with respect to accumulation time, reduction time and reduction potential. The detection limits were found to be 1 ppb and 15 ppb for Pb²⁺ and Cu²⁺ respectively. The technique was used for the detection of Pb²⁺ and Cu²⁺ in spiked lake water. The average recoveries of Pb²⁺ and Cu²⁺ were 96.2% and 94.5% with relative standard deviations of 8.43% and 7.53% respectively. The potential for simultaneous detection of heavy metal ions by the modified CNTs was also demonstrated.     

Carbon nanotube-enhanced electrochemical DNA biosensor for DNA hybridization detection

A novel and sensitive electrochemical DNA biosensor based on multi-walled carbon nanotubes functionalized with a carboxylic acid group (MWNTs-COOH) for covalent DNA immobilization and enhanced hybridization detection is described. The MWNTs-COOH-modified glassy carbon electrode (GCE) was fabricated and oligonucleotides with the 5'-amino group were covalently bonded to the carboxyl group of carbon nanotubes. The hybridization reaction on the electrode was monitored by differential pulse voltammetry (DPV) analysis using an electroactive intercalator daunomycin as an indicator. Compared with previous DNA sensors with oligonucleotides directly incorporated on carbon electrodes, this carbon nanotube-based assay with its large surface area and good charge-transport characteristics dramatically increased DNA attachment quantity and complementary DNA detection sensitivity. This is the first application of carbon nanotubes to the fabrication of an electrochemical DNA biosensor with a favorable performance for the rapid detection of specific hybridization.     

A uric acid sensor based on electrodeposition of nickel hexacyanoferrate nanoparticles on an electrode modified with multi-walled carbon nanotubes

An electrode sensitive to uric acid was prepared by electrodeposition of nickel(II) hexacyanoferrate(III) on the surface of a glassy carbon electrode modified with multi-walled carbon nanotubes. The morphology of the material was characterized by scanning electron microscopy and Fourier transform infrared spectrometry. The modified electrode were characterized via cyclic voltammetry and amperometry (i - t). It exhibited efficient electron transfer ability and a strong and fast (< 3?s) response towards uric acid which is linear in the range from 0.1???M to 18???M, with a lower detection limit of 50 nM (at an S/N ratio of 3). In addition, the electrode exhibited good reproducibility and long-term stability.

Amperometric Detection of Morphine at Preheated Glassy Carbon Electrode Modified with Multiwall Carbon Nanotubes

A highly sensitive and fast responding sensor for the determination of morphine is described. The multiwall carbon nanotubes immobilize on preheated glassy carbon electrode (5 min at 50 °C) by gently rubbing of electrode surface on a filter paper supporting the carbon nanotubes.The results indicated that carbon nanotubes(CNTs) modified glassy carbon electrode exhibited efficiently electrocatalytic oxidation for morphine with relatively high sensitivity, stability and long life. Under conditions of cyclic voltammetry, the potential for oxidation of morphine is lowered by approximately 100 mV and the current is enhanced significantly (10 times) in comparison to the bare glassy carbon electrode at wide pH range (2–9). The electrocatalytic behavior is further exploited as a sensitive detection scheme for morphine determination by hydrodynamic amperometry. Under the optimized conditions the calibration plots are linear in the concentration range 0.5–150 μM with the calculated detection limit (S/N=3) of 0.2 μM and sensitivity of 10 nA/μM and a relative standard deviation (RSD) of 2.5% (n=10). The amperometric response is extremely stable, with no loss in sensitivity over a continual 30 min operation. Such attractive ability of multiwall carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) modified GC electrode, suggests great promise for a morphine amperometric sensor. Finally the ability of the modified electrode was evaluated for simultaneous determination of morphine and codeine.     

Smart nano-architectures as potential sensing tools for detecting heavy metal ions in aqueous matrices

The discharge of heavy metal ions into water resources as a result of human activities has become a global issue. Contamination with heavy metal ions poses a major threat to the environment and human health. Therefore, there is a dire need to probe the presence of heavy metal ions in a more selective, facile, quick, cost-effective and sensitive way. Conventional sensors are being utilized to sense heavy metal ions; however, various challenges and limitations like interference, overlapping of oxidation potential, selectivity and sensitivity are associated with them that limit their in-field applicability. Hence, nanomaterial based chemical sensors have emerged as an alternative substitute and are extensively employed for the detection of heavy metal ions as a potent analytical tool. The incorporation of nanomaterials in sensors increases their sensitivity, selectivity, portability, on-site detection capability and device performance. Nanomaterial based electrodes exhibit enhanced performance because surface of electrode at nano-scale level offers high catalytic potential, large active surface area and high conductivity. Therefore, this review addresses the recent progress on chemical sensors based on different nanomaterials such as carbon nanotubes (CNTs), metal nanoparticles, graphene, carbon quantum dots and nanocomposites for sensing heavy metals ions using different sensing approaches. Furthermore, various types of optical sensors such as fluorescence, luminescence and colorimetry sensors have been presented in detail.     

Electrochemical Determination of Dopamine Using a Carboxyl-functionalized Carbon Nanotube-Modified Carbon Paste Electrode Doped with Polymeric Ferric Sulfate

A novel electrochemical device for the sensitive determination of dopamine was developed based on a carbon paste electrode with polymeric ferric sulfate doped in the carbon paste and a carboxyl-functionalized carbon nanotube thin film on the surface. The modified electrode was characterized by scanning electron microscopy, electrochemical impedance spectroscopy, and cyclic voltammetry. The conditions for the preparation of electrode were optimized. The carbon nanotubes were shown to be stable on the surface of carbon paste electrode. The novel electrochemical device provided excellent activity toward dopamine. Amperometry and differential pulse voltammetry were used for the determination of dopamine in pH 7.0 phosphate buffer with a long linear range from 0.8 to 261?µM and a detection limit of 0.2?µM. The modified electrode showed excellent repeatability, good stability, and satisfactory reproducibility, thus demonstrating potential for practical applications.     

Electrochemical behavior and voltammetric determination of norfloxacin at glassy carbon electrode modified with multi walled carbon nanotubes/Nafion

A simple and rapid electrochemical method is developed for the determination of trace-level norfloxacin, based on the excellent properties of multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs). The MWCNTs/Nafion film-coated glassy carbon electrode (GCE) is constructed and the electrochemical behavior of norfloxacin at the electrode is investigated in detail. The results indicate that MWCNTs modified glassy carbon electrode exhibited efficiently electrocatalytic oxidation for norfloxacin (NFX) with relatively high sensitivity, stability and life time. Under conditions of cyclic voltammetry, the current for oxidation of selected analyte is enhanced significantly in comparison to the bare GCE. The electrocatalytic behavior is further exploited as a sensitive detection scheme for the analyte determinations by linear sweep voltammetry (LSV). Under optimized condition in voltammetric method the concentration calibration range and detection limit (S/N=3) are 0.1-100 micromol/L and 5 x 10(-8)mol/L for NFX. The proposed method was successfully applied to NFX determination in tablets. The analytical performance of this sensor has been evaluated for detection of the analyte in urine as a real sample.     

Electrocatalytic Oxidation and Direct Determination of L-Tyrosine by Square Wave Voltammetry at Multi-wall Carbon Nanotubes Modified Glassy Carbon Electrodes

The electrochemical behavior of L-tyrosine was investigated at a multi-wall carbon nanotubes modified glassy carbon electrode. L-tyrosine itself showed a poor electrochemical response at the bare glassy carbon electrode; however, a multi-wall carbon nanotubes film fabricated on the glassy carbon electrode can directly enhance the electrochemical signal of L-tyrosine when applying cyclic voltammetry and square wave stripping voltammetry without any mediator. Cyclic voltammetry was carried out to study the electrochemical oxidation mechanism of L-tyrosine, which shows a totally irreversible process and an oxidation potential of 671 mV at the modified electrode and 728 mV at the bare electrode, ΔE_p = 57 mV. The anodic peak current linearly increases with the square root of scan rate in the low range, suggesting that the oxidation of L-tyrosine on the multi-wall carbon nanotubes modified electrode is a diffusion-controlled process. The square wave stripping voltammetry currents of L-tyrosine at the multi-wall carbon nanotubes modified electrodes increased linearly with the concentration in the range of 2.0 × 10⁻⁶–5.0 × 10⁻⁴ mol L⁻¹. The detection limit was 4.0 × 10⁻⁷ mol L⁻¹. The method is simple, quick, sensitive and accurate.     

Detection of lead(II) using an glassy carbon electrode modified with Nafion, carbon nanotubes and benzo-18-crown-6

A glassy carbon electrode was modified with Nafion, carbon nanotubes and benzo-18-crown-6 to give an electrode for the selective determination of lead(II) via square wave anodic stripping voltammetry. The use of carbon nanotubes with their extraordinary electrical conductivity and strong adsorption ability warrants high sensitivity. Benzo-18-crown-6 is employed as a “molecular scavenger” because of its excellent selectivity for lead(II). The modified electrode shows enhanced sensitivity, reproducibility and selectivity for lead(II) even without applying an electrical potential during the accumulation time. It responds linearly to lead(II) in the 1 to 30 nM concentration range (with a correlation coefficient of 0.9992) after a 10-min accumulation time. The detection limit is 1 nM. The sensor exhibits excellent selectivity over other heavy metal ions such as Cd(II), Cu(II), Zn(II), and Hg(II).

Electrocatalytic oxidation of hydrazine at a glassy carbon electrode modified with nickel ferrite and multi-walled carbon nanotubes

A hydrothermal technique was used to synthesize nickel ferrite nanoparticles (NF-NPs) deposited on multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs). The material was characterized by scanning electron microscopy, energy dispersive spectrometry, and X-ray powder diffraction which showed that the NF-NPs are located on the surface of the carboxylated MWCNTs. The material was used to modify a glassy carbon electrode which then was characterized via cyclic voltammetry, electrochemical impedance spectroscopy, and amperometry. The electrode displays strong electrochemical response to hydrazine. A potential hydrazine sensing scheme is suggested.

Electrochemical performance of a three-layer electrode based on Bi nanoparticles,multi-walled carbon nanotube composites for simultaneous Hg(II) and Cu(II) detection

Electrochemical analysis is a promising technique for detecting biotoxic and non-biodegradable heavy metals. This article proposes a novel composite electrode based on a polyaniline (PANi) framework doped with bismuth nanoparticle@graphene oxide multi-walled carbon nanotubes (Bi NPs@GO-MWCNTs) for the simultaneous detection of multiple heavy metal ions. Composite electrodes are prepared on screen-printed electrodes (SPCEs) using an efficient dispensing technique. We used a SM200SX-3A dispenser to load a laboratory-specific ink with optimized viscosity and adhesion to draw a pattern on the work area. The SPCE was used as substrate to facilitate cost-effective and more convenient real-time detection technology. Electrochemical techniques, such as cyclic voltammetry and differential pulse voltammetry, were used to demonstrate the sensing capabilities of the proposed sensor. The sensitivity, limit of detection, and linear range of the PANi-Bi NPs@GO-MWCNT electrode are 2.57 × 10² μA L μmol⁻¹ cm⁻², 0.01 nmol/L, and 0.01 nmol/L–5 mmol/L and 0.15 × 10⁻¹ μA L μmol⁻¹ cm⁻², 0.5 nmol/L, and 0.5 nmol/L–5 mmol/L for mercury ion (Hg(II)) and copper ion (Cu(II)) detection, respectively. In addition, the electrode exhibits a good selectivity and repeatability for Hg(II) and Cu(II) sensing when tested in a complex heavy metal ion solution. The constructed electrode system exhibits a detection performance superior to similar methods and also increases the types of heavy metal ions that can be detected. Therefore, the proposed device can be used as an efficient sensor for the detection of multiple heavy metal ions in complex environments.     

Carbon nanotube-based extraction and electrochemical detection of heavy metals

In this mini review, recent trends and challenges in developing carbon nanotube-based extraction and electrochemical detection of heavy metals in water are reviewed. Carbon nanotubes (CNT) have electrical, mechanical, chemical, and structural properties superior to those of conventional materials, for example graphite and activated carbon. CNT-based procedures are also more efficient than traditional techniques and methods, for example liquid?Cliquid extraction, atomic-absorption spectroscopy, flame photometry, and inductively coupled plasma, because they can enable rapid, sensitive, simple, and low-cost on-site detection. Different forms of CNT, including as-grown, oxidised, and functionalised CNT, can be well suited to metal adsorption. The measurement procedure relies on adsorbing the metal on the CNT surface after reasonable contact time, either by applying an electrical potential or under open-circuit conditions, and subsequent quantification. Different types of CNT-based electrode, including composite, paste, and binder-free, can be fabricated and used for metal detection. Application of CNT and their novel properties to the adsorption and detection of heavy metals is discussed in detail.     

Electrochemical synthesis of gold nanoparticles on the surface of multi-walled carbon nanotubes with glassy carbon electrode and their application

Gold nanoparticles on the surface of multi-walled carbon nanotubes with glassy carbon electrode were prepared using electrochemical synthesis method. The thin films of gold Nanoparticles/multi-walled carbon nanotubes were characterized by scanning electron microscopy, powder X-ray diffraction, and cyclic voltammetry. Electrochemical behavior of adrenaline hydrochloride at gold nanoparticles/multi-walled carbon nanotube modified glassy carbon electrode was investigated. A simple, sensitive, and inexpensive method for determination of adrenaline hydrochloride was proposed.     

Apparent 'electrocatalytic' activity of multiwalled carbon nanotubes in the detection of the anaesthetic halothane: occluded copper nanoparticles

The electrocatalytic detection of the anaesthetic halothane on a multiwalled carbon nanotube modified glassy carbon electrode is reported with a low limit of detection of 4.6 microM. A thorough investigation of the underlying cause of this apparent catalytic effect is undertaken by comparing the response of various carbon electrodes including glassy carbon, basal- and edge-plane pyrolytic graphite electrodes (bppg and eppg respectively) to increasing additions of halothane. The reduction of halothane is shifted by 250-300 mV to more negative potentials at an eppg electrode than that observed at the GC-CNT electrode. Therefore the results of this investigation show that, surprisingly, the electrocatalysis is not solely due to the introduction of edge-plane-like defect sites on the carbon nanotubes as is commonly found for many other substrates showing favourable voltammetry at nanotube modified electrodes. Instead, we reveal that in this unusual case the electroactive sites for the reduction of halothane are due to the presence of copper nanoparticles occluded within the carbon nanotubes during their production, which are never completely removed by standard purification techniques such as acid washing. This is only the third known case where apparent electrocatalysis by carbon nanotube modified electrodes is due to occluded metal-related nanoparticles within the nanotube structure, rather than the active sites being the edge-plane-like defect sites on the nanotubes. Furthermore this is the first case where the active sites are nanoparticles of copper metal, rather than metal oxide nanoparticles (namely oxides of iron(II)/(III)) as was found to be the case in the previous examples.     

CO2资源化转化纳米碳材料对硫酸盐化铅盘电极的活化性能研究

负极板硫酸盐化是铅酸蓄电池早期容量下降、提前失效的主要原因之一. 利用碳材料制备活化剂加入电池电解液中,可以有效减少或修复不可逆硫酸盐化现象. 本文研究了一种新型高导电纳米碳材料—CO2高温熔盐电化学转化制备碳粉,对硫酸盐化铅盘电极的活化效果,结果表明,新型碳粉对于铅盘电极电量和电流效率的提升效果比乙炔黑和碳纳米管更显著,在一定浓度范围内对析氢无影响,碳粉的存在提高了电极活性物质间的导电性,并可在其表面吸附富集铅离子和提供还原位点,从而促进硫酸铅的溶解、抑制大颗粒硫酸盐晶体的产生,表明CO2高温熔盐资源化转化制备的碳粉作为一种新的铅蓄电池碳材料活化剂具有较好的发展潜力.     

Voltammetric determination of captopril using a novel ferrocene-based polyamide as a mediator and multi-wall carbon nanotubes as a sensor

A modified carbon paste electrode was prepared by incorporating multi-wall carbon nanotubes with a ferrocene-based polyamide (FDADO-IPC). A mixture of fine graphite powder with 10 wt % of multi-wall carbon nanotubes was applied to the preparation of the carbon paste (by dispersing in paraffin) that was finally modified with a ferrocene polyamide complex. The electrocatalytic oxidation of captopril (CAP) was investigated on the surface of the FDADO-IPC multi-wall carbon nanotubes modified carbon paste electrode (FDADO-IPC-MCNTPE) using cyclic voltammetry (CV), differential pulse voltammetry (DPV), chronoamperometry (CHA) and chronocoloumetry (CHC). Using the modified electrode, the kinetics of CAP electrooxidation was considerably enhanced by lowering the anodic overpotential through a catalytic fashion. A linear dynamic range of 0.2–200 μM for CAP was obtained in buffered solutions at pH 7.0. The detection limit was 0.08 μM. Differential pulse voltammetry as a simple, rapid, sensitive, and selective method was developed for the determination of CAP in tablet and human urine without any treatment.     

Hydroxyapatite Wrapped Multiwalled Carbon Nanotubes/Ionic Liquid Composite Electrode: A High Performance Sensor for Trace Determination of Lead Ions

A nanocomposite consisting of multiwalled carbon nanotubes wrapped with hydroxyapatite (HA/MWCNTs) was used in the construction of a new composite paste electrode using an ionic liquid as the binder. The stable surface in aqueous solutions as well as the high sorptive behaviors towards heavy metal ions and the favorable charge transfer make the electrode highly efficient especially for stripping or adsorptive analysis. The analysis of Pb²⁺ as a model of heavy metal ions has been performed. Good sensitivity, detection limit, selectivity and reproducibility were obtained for the suggested sensor. The linear range of the electrode response covered four orders of magnitude (1 nM–10 µM), in two linear ranges. The obtained detection limit for Pb²⁺ was 2×10^?11 M.     

Electrochemical Detection of Pb(II) by Glassy Carbon Electrode Modified with Amine-Functionalized Magnetite Nanoparticles

An amine-Fe₃O₄ modified glassy carbon (GC) electrode was constructed for detecting Pb(II) ions in wastewater. The electrode was characterized by cyclic voltammetry (CV) and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS). Square wave anodic stripping voltammetry (SWASV) was used to detect the Pb(II), and the detection limit of Pb(II) was 0.15 µM. The sensitivity of the electrode to detect Pb(II) was about 10.07 µA/µM, with a correlation coefficient of 0.991, which was approximately 10 times bigger than that of a pure Fe₃O₄ modified electrode. The electrode also showed good selectivity and stability. This results indicated that the amine-magnetite material could have some potential applications in heavy metal ions detection in wastewater.     

Construction of an electrochemical sensor based on the electrodeposition of Au-Pt nanoparticles mixtures on multi-walled carbon nanotubes film for voltammetric determination of cefotaxime

Mixtures of gold-platinum nanoparticles (Au-PtNPs) are fabricated consecutively on a multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWNT) coated glassy carbon electrode (GCE) by the electrodeposition method. The surface morphology and nature of the hybrid film (Au-PtNPs/MWCNT) deposited on glassy carbon electrodes is characterized by scanning electron microscopy (SEM), energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDS), X-ray diffraction (XRD), electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) and cyclic voltammetry (CV) techniques. The modified electrode is used as a new and sensitive electrochemical sensor for the voltammetric determination of cefotaxime (CFX). The electrochemical behavior of CFX is investigated on the surface of the modified electrode using linear sweep voltammetry (LSV). The results of voltammetric studies exhibited a considerable improvement in the oxidation peak current of CFX compared to glassy carbon electrodes individually coated with MWCNT or Au-PtNPs. Under the optimized conditions, the modified electrode showed a wide linear dynamic range of 0.004-10.0 μM with a detection limit of 1.0 nM for the voltammetric determination of CFX. The modified electrode was successfully applied for the accurate determination of trace amounts of CFX in pharmaceutical and clinical preparations.     

金纳米粒子/碳纳米管修饰电极对4 壬基酚的电催化氧化及检测研究

制备了金纳米粒子/碳纳米管修饰玻碳电极(AuNPs-CNTs/GCE),采用循环伏安法和线性扫描伏安法研究了4-壬基酚在修饰电极上的电化学行为,并建立了一种灵敏简便地检测4-壬基酚的电化学方法。优化了pH值、扫描速率、富集时间等测定参数,并计算出pH值与氧化峰电压、扫描速率与氧化峰电流之间的数量关系。在pH 10.0的BR缓冲溶液中,4-壬基酚在AuNPs-CNTs/GCE上出现灵敏的氧化峰,氧化电位为0.51 V。与裸玻碳电极(GCE)和单一碳纳米管修饰电极(CNTs/GCE)相比,AuNPs-CNTs/GCE明显提高了4-壬基酚的氧化电流。在优化实验条件下,4-壬基酚的浓度分别在0.05～4μmol/L和6～14μmol/L范围内与氧化峰电流呈良好的线性关系,检出限为0.023μmol/L,对于实际样品测定的回收率为95%～104%。该修饰电极具有良好的重现性和稳定性,可用于环境样品中4-壬基酚的直接检测。