Anodic stripping voltammetric determination of copper (II) ions at a graphene quantum dot-modified pencil graphite electrode

A simple and sensitive electrochemical sensor based on graphene quantum dot-modified pencil graphite electrode (GQD/PGE) was fabricated and used for highly selective and sensitive determination of copper (II) ions in nanomolar concentration by square wave adsorptive stripping voltammetric method. The sensing mechanism could be attributed to the formation of a complex between Cu²⁺ ions and oxygen-containing groups in GQDs which result in an increased SWV signal in comparison with the bare electrode. Optimization of various experimental parameters such as pre-concentration time, pre-concentration potential, pH, and buffer type which influence the performance of the sensor, was investigated. Under optimized condition, GQD-modified electrode has been used for the analysis of Cu²⁺ in the concentration range from 50 pM to 4 nM and a lower detection limit of 12 pM with good stability, repeatability, and selectivity. Finally, the practical applicability of GQD-PGE was confirmed via measuring trace amount of Cu (II) in water samples. The GQD/PGE surface could be regenerated by exerting more positive potentials than the stripping potential of the Cu (II) ion and then used for another deposition.