Au/ZnS/ZnO Photoelectrochemical Sensor for Sensitive and Selective Cd2+ Detection

Abstract

Sensitive and selective detection of cadmium ions is important to pollution monitoring and human health. In this work, a photoelectrochemical sensor for Cd2+ composed of Au/ZnS/ZnO modified nickel foam is prepared hydrothermally and by reduction. The materials and electrochemical properties are characterized systematically. The Au/ZnS/ZnO electrode exhibits a linear relationship with Cd2+ concentrations in the range of 0.1 μM − 100 μM with a correlation coefficient of 0.9993 in conjunction with a high sensitivity of 158.3 μA mM−1 cm−2. The synergistic structure boasting detection of Cd2+ with high sensitivity and selectivity has broad application prospect in environmental science and pollution control.