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Electrochemical sensor for detection of mercury (II) ions in water using nanostructured bismuth hexagons

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Abstract

This study presents a systematic observation of the ability of bismuth nanostructures to detect trace amounts of mercury. Nanostructured hexagons of bismuth were synthesized using electrochemical deposition with potentiostatic mode on indium tin oxide-coated glass electrodes. Regular hexagons composed of nano-sized hexagonal building blocks (edge length \(\approx 80\) to 700 nm) with well-defined edges were observed in scanning electron microscopy studies. X-ray diffraction pattern indicates the presence of polycrystalline bismuth and bismuth oxide in rhombohedral and cubic phases, respectively. X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy was done to analyze the chemical structure of the prepared nanostructures. Square wave anodic stripping voltammetry technique confirms that these nanostructured electrodes are highly sensitive to \(Hg^{2+}\) ions down to concentrations as low as 0.74 ppb.

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Acknowledgements

We thank DST, New Delhi (IFA-11/PH-06, IFA-13/PH-84), SERB, New Delhi (ECR/2016/1780, ECR/2016/1888), and UGC DAE CSR, Indore (CSR-IC/CRS-73/2014-15/581), for providing financial support. We are also thankful to MRC, MNIT Jaipur, for providing characterization facilities.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Amity Institute of Biotechnology, Amity University Rajasthan, Kant Kalwar, NH-11C, Jaipur, Rajasthan, 303002, India

    Sandeep Gupta & S. L. Kothari

  2. Department of Physics, Malaviya National Institute of Technology, JLN Marg, Jaipur, Rajasthan, 302017, India

    Rini Singh, M. D. Anoop, Kamlendra Awasthi & Manoj Kumar

  3. Department of Physics, Banasthali Vidyapith, Banasthali, Rajasthan, 304022, India

    Rini Singh

  4. CSIR-Central Salt and Marine Chemicals Research Institute, Gijubhai Badheka Marg, Bhavnagar, Gujarat, 364002, India

    Vaibhav Kulshrestha

  5. Academy of Scientific and Innovative Research, Gijubhai Badheka Marg, Bhavnagar, Gujarat, 364002, India

    Vaibhav Kulshrestha & Divesh N. Srivastava

  6. Analytical Division and Centralized Instrument Facility, CSIR-Central Salt and Marine Chemicals Research Institute, Gijubhai Badheka Marg, Bhavnagar, Gujarat, 364002, India

    Divesh N. Srivastava

  7. Amity School of Applied Sciences, Amity University Rajasthan, Kant Kalwar, NH-11C, Jaipur, Rajasthan, 303002, India

    Kanad Ray

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  1. Sandeep Gupta
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  2. Rini Singh
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  7. S. L. Kothari
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  9. Manoj Kumar
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Correspondence to Sandeep Gupta or Manoj Kumar.

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Gupta, S., Singh, R., Anoop, M.D. et al. Electrochemical sensor for detection of mercury (II) ions in water using nanostructured bismuth hexagons. Appl. Phys. A 124, 737 (2018). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00339-018-2161-9

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00339-018-2161-9

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