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Gold nanoparticle modified screen-printed carbon arrays for the simultaneous electrochemical analysis of lead and copper in tap water

Microchimica Acta volume 183, pages 2361–2368 (2016)Cite this article

Abstract

Disposable screen-printed carbon arrays modified with gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) are described. The AuNP-modified screen-printed carbon arrays, designated as AuNP-SPCE arrays, were characterized by cyclic voltammetry and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy. The AuNP-SPCE arrays display excellent electrocatalytic activity towards lead and copper. Two well-defined and fully resolved anodic stripping peaks, at 20 mV for Pb(II) and at 370 mV for Cu(II), both vs. Ag/AgCl, can be seen. Square wave anodic stripping voltammetry was used to simultaneously analyze Pb(II) and Cu(II) in their binary mixtures in tap water. The linear working range for Pb(II) extends from 10 μg.L−1 to 100 μg.L−1 with a sensitivity of 5.94 μA.μg−1.L.cm−2. The respective data for Cu(II) are a working range from 10 μg.L−1 to 150 μg.L−1 with a sensitivity of 3.52 μA.μg−1.L.cm−2. The limits of detection (based on 3× the baseline noise) are 2.1 ng.L−1 and 1.4 ng.L−1, respectively. In our perception, this array is particularly attractive because Pb(II) and Cu(II) can be determined at rather low working potentials which makes the method fairly selective in that it is not significantly interfered by other electroactive species that require higher reduction potentials.

Fabrication, characterization and electrochemical behavior of gold nanoparticles modified screen-printed carbon arrays towards lead and copper in tap water.

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Acknowledgments

The authors would like to thank the Department of Employment and Learning Ireland (Grant No.: USI035) and the National Institutes of Health (Grant No.: 5R01ES003154-30) for the funding.

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  1. School of Engineering, Ulster University, Jordanstown, BT37 0QB, United Kingdom

    Prosper Kanyong, Sean Rawlinson & James Davis

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  1. Prosper Kanyong
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  2. Sean Rawlinson
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Correspondence to Prosper Kanyong.

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Kanyong, P., Rawlinson, S. & Davis, J. Gold nanoparticle modified screen-printed carbon arrays for the simultaneous electrochemical analysis of lead and copper in tap water. Microchim Acta 183, 2361–2368 (2016). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00604-016-1879-3

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00604-016-1879-3

Keywords

  • Nanomaterial-based sensing
  • Screen-printed electrodes
  • Heavy metal analysis
  • Disposable sensor
  • Hexacyanoferrate
  • Cyclic voltammetry
  • Square wave anodic stripping voltammetry
  • Electrochemical impedance spectroscopy
  • Electrode coverage
  • Dual sensing