Chapter 23 - Determination of lead with electrodes nanostructured with gold nanoparticles

Abstract

The use of nanomaterials in Analytical Chemistry has introduced a huge amount of improvements into a wide range of applications, particularly in electrochemical applications, where the improvement of sensitivity and selectivity is a key factor. In this chapter, the application of a simple, rapid, and reproducible electrochemical method to obtain gold nanostructures is described. This technique is based on the application of a constant current over an appropriate time interval. It is applied onto commercially available screen-printed electrodes, which represent a miniaturized, sensitive, disposable, economic, and portable alternative to traditional electrodes. Gold nanostructured screen-printed carbon electrodes (SPCEs) have then demonstrated to be suitable transducers for the determination of lead using square wave voltammetry. This chapter includes the reproducible, rapid, and controlled generation of gold nanostructures on SPCEs and an example of an application of the advantages that nanomaterials offer to the environmental analysis field.