Polysulfide/Graphene Nanocomposite Film for Simultaneous Electrochemical Determination of Cadmium and Lead Ions

Abstract

An integrative electroanalytical method was developed for detecting Cd[Formula: see text] and Pb[Formula: see text] ions in aqueous solutions. Polysulfide/graphene (RGO-S) nanocomposites were prepared and their performance as electrochemical sensors for Cd[Formula: see text] and Pb[Formula: see text] was evaluated. The RGO-S nanocomposite was carefully characterized by scanning electron microscopy with energy-dispersive X-ray spectrometry, transmission electron microscopy, and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy. The as-prepared RGO-S was incorporated into a pyrolytic graphite electrode (RGO-S/PGE) and used for detecting trace amount of Cd[Formula: see text] and Pb[Formula: see text] by differential pulse anodic stripping voltammetry. Under optimal conditions, the stripping peak current of RGO-S/PGE varies linearly with heavy metal ion concentration in the ranges 2.0–300[Formula: see text][Formula: see text]g L[Formula: see text] for Cd[Formula: see text] and 1.0–300[Formula: see text][Formula: see text]g L[Formula: see text] for Pb[Formula: see text]. The limits of detection for Cd[Formula: see text] and Pb[Formula: see text] were estimated to be about 0.67[Formula: see text][Formula: see text]g L[Formula: see text] and 0.17[Formula: see text][Formula: see text]g L[Formula: see text], respectively. The prepared electrochemical heavy-metal-detecting electrode provides good repeatability and reproducibility with high sensitivity, making it a suitable candidate for monitoring Cd[Formula: see text] and Pb[Formula: see text] concentrations in aqueous environmental samples.