Novel potentiometric sensor for the trace-level determination of Zn2+ based on a new nanographene/ion imprinted polymer composite

Abstract

ABSTRACTIn this research, a new strategy for construction of a development potentiometric carbon paste Zn2+-ion selective electrode based on a novel nano-sensing layer is suggested. The proposed nano-sensing layer was prepared with the addition of a synthesised Zn2+-ion imprinted polymer nanoparticles ‘as an efficient sensing agent’ into the carbon paste matrix consisting of graphite powder, nanographene-composite ‘graphene nanosheets decorated with silver nanoparticles’ and 1-butyl-1-methylpyrrolidinium bis(trifluoromethylsulfonyl)imide ‘ an ionic liquid ’, as the conducting binder. Under the optimised experimental conditions, the suggested nanographene-composite potentiometric sensor presented a low detection limit of 1.93 × 10−1 μg L−1 and a linear analytical range from 2.62 × 10−1 to 6.54 × 105 μg L−1 with an excellent Nernstian slope of 29.80 mV decade−1. The proposed zinc selective sensor was successfully applied for the highly sensitive determination of trace amounts of Zn2+ in environmental and biological samples with satisfactory results.