An Electrochemical Sensing Platform for the Trace Level Detection of Copper

Abstract

The present work is aimed at the development of highly sensitive electrochemical sensor based on immobilization of 1-phenyl-N-(thiophen-2-ylmethyl)ethanamine (PTE) on glassy carbon electrode (PTEGCE) for the detection of cupric ions (Cu2+), employing electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) differential pulse anodic stripping voltammetry (DPASV) and square wave anodic stripping voltammetry (SWASV). Several experimental parameters were optimized including concentration of the modifier, pH, and scan rate, number of cycles, accumulation time, deposition potential and supporting electrolytes. The designed sensor showed nice voltammetric response in media of different pH, demonstrated good percentage recoveries and exhibited remarkable electrocatalytic activity. The designed sensor was also not interfered much by the presence of other metal ions. A wide linear range with very low limit of detection as compared to the reported methods reveal the applicability of our designed sensor as a preferred analytical tool. The limit of detection as low as 0.11 nM was obtained using PTEGCE. We expect that these results will let the chemists to apply this sensor for various metallic, organic and organometallic toxins with slight modification.