Cu-doped graphitic carbon nitride composite functionalized sensor for sensitive Cd2+ detection

Abstract

Cadmium ions (Cd2+) are one of the highly poisonous heavy metal ions in the environment, but at present, the detection of Cd2+ on the market has the disadvantages of complex operation, high detection cost and slow detection speed, so it is urgent to develop rapid and sensitive detection platforms for detecting Cd2+. In this study, a novel electrochemical sensor (g-C3N4/CuNps) was successfully fabricated. g-C3N4/CuNps composite has a large and unique surface area that is beneficial to the adsorption and preconcentration of Cd2+. The experiment parameters such as deposition potential, deposition time, pH of supporting electrolyte, supporting electrolyte, the amount of g-C3N4/CuNps being coated on the GCE, were optimized. Under the optimized conditions, the electrochemical performances of g-C3N4/CuNps composites modified sensor have been investigated, which shows excellent wider linear range and lower detection limit (0.098 nM). The linear ranges of Cd2+ detections were 1-100µgL-1. Moreover, the sensor shows desirable stability, selectivity, and reproducibility for detecting Cd2+. For real water samples, the sensor has a satisfactory recovery rate, indicating that the sensor could be successfully applied in the determination of Cd2+ in environmental water. Therefore, the designed sensor provides a potential simple and low cost material for electrochemical detection of Cd2+.