A wearable electrode based on copper nanoparticles for rapid determination of paraquat.

Abstract

Theapplication of copper-based nanoparticles synthesized via green synthesis and their integration with a wearable electrode is reportedfor designing a flexible catalytic electrode on a glove for onsite electroanalysis of paraquat. A copper precursor and an orange extract from Citrus reticulata are used to synthesize an economical electrocatalytic material for supporting the selective and sensitive detection of paraquat. The electrode yields multidimensional fingerprints due to two redox couples in a square wave voltammogram, corresponding to the presence of paraquat. The developed lab-on-a-finger sensor provides thefast electroanalysis of paraquat within 10s, covering a wide range from 0.50 to 1000µM, with a low detection limit down to 0.31µM and high selectivity. It is also possible to use this sensor at a fast scan rate as high as 6Vs-1 (< 0.5s for a scan). This wearable glove sensor allows the user to directly touch and analyze samples, such as surfaces ofvegetables and fruits, to screen the contamination. It is envisioned that these glove-embedded sensors can be applied to the on-site analysis of food contamination and environments.