Utilization of AuNPs dotted S-doped carbon nanoflakes as electrochemical sensing platform for simultaneous determination of Cu (II) and Hg (II)

• Published in: Journal of electroanalytical chemistry (Lausanne, Switzerland) Switzerland), 2017-06, Vol.794, p.71-77
• Main Authors: Zuo, Yinxiu, Xu, Jingkun, Jiang, Fengxing, Duan, Xuemin, Lu, Limin, Ye, Guo, Li, Changcun, Yu, Yongfang
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Anodic stripping; Carbon; Copper; Differential pulse anodic stripping voltammetry; Electrochemical analysis; Electrode materials; Electrodes; Glassy carbon; Gold; Gold nanoparticles; Heavy metals; Morphology; Nanoparticles; Poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene); Raman spectroscopy; S-doped carbon; Scanning electron microscopy; Sensors; Transmission electron microscopy; Voltammetry; X ray photoelectron spectroscopy
• ISSN: 1572-6657; 1873-2569
• DOI: 10.1016/j.jelechem.2017.04.002

Gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) dotted S-doped carbon (AuNPs/S-C) nanoflakes were synthesized via a facial and simple approach. Typical synthesis route involves the formation of gold nanoparticles/poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene) (AuNPs/PEDOT) and a subsequent calcination process. Many techniques, including scanning electron microscopy (SEM), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), Raman spectroscopy, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) were used to characterize their morphology, structures and compositions. Results indicated that AuNPs with an average size of 5nm were uniformly dotted on/into the S-C nanoflakes. The AuNPs/S-C/nafion was utilized as a new electrode material for simultaneously electrochemical determination of Cu (II) and Hg (II) using differential pulse anodic stripping voltammetry (DPASV) technique. Benefiting from the efficient metal-complexing ability and electrocatalytic activity of S-C and the good conductivity of AuNPs, the modified electrode exhibited enhanced electrochemical performance compared with bare glassy carbon electrode. Under optimal conditions, the peak currents displayed linear response to the concentrations of Cu (II) and Hg (II) ranges from 0.64 to 63.55μg/L and 4.01 to 300.89μg/L, with detection limits of 0.19μg/L and 1.40μg/L (S/N=3), respectively. The modified electrode was also applied for the determination of Cu (II) and Hg (II) in lake water samples with good results. •A facial and simple method was reported to prepare AuNPs/S-C.•Simultaneous electrochemical determination Cu (II) and Hg (II) on AuNPs/S-C/nafion/GCE was reported for the first time.•Limit of detection for Cu (II) and Hg (II) was 0.19μg/L and 1.40μg/L, respectively.•The sensor was used for detection of Cu (II) and Hg (II) in real samples with good recoveries.