Voltammetric determination of trace heavy metals using an electrochemically deposited graphene/bismuth nanocomposite film-modified glassy carbon electrode

Abstract

A novel electrochemically deposited graphene (EG)/bismuth (Bi) nanocomposite film-modified glassy carbon electrode (GCE) was prepared through successive electrodeposition of exfoliated graphene oxide (GO) and in situ plating bismuth film. Experimental variables, including deposition potential and bismuth concentration, were carefully optimized to determine trace zinc, cadmium, and lead ions by using the EG/Bi electrode as an electrochemical-sensing platform. The linear calibration curves ranged from 1 to 100μgL−1 for Zn2+, Cd2+, and Pb2+. The detection limits were 1.80μgL−1 for Zn2+, 0.18μgL−1 for Cd2+, and 0.11μgL−1 for Pb2+ (S/N=3). The EG/Bi nanocomposite film electrode was successfully applied to the analysis of trace metals in real environments.