Highly sensitive and selective electrochemical detection of sub-ppb level chromium(VI) using nano-sized gold particle

Gold nanoparticle based nanostructured electrode has been developed for the amperometric detection of ultratrace amount of toxic Cr(VI). The nano-sized Au particles have been grown on a conducting substrate modified with sol–gel-derived thiol functionalized silicate network and used for the electroanalysis of Cr(VI). The nanostructured interface show well-defined voltammetric peak for the reduction of Cr(VI) at ∼0.4 V. The voltammetric behavior of Cr(VI) strongly depends on the coverage of nanoparticle on the electrode surface. Constant potential amperometry has been used for the detection of Cr(VI) at well below the guideline value set by World Health Organization (WHO). This electrode is highly sensitive (30 ± 0.2 nA/ppb) and the detection limit (S/N = 9) was 0.1 ppb. Cr(III) and coexisting other metal ions and surface active agent present in water do not interfere with the amperometric measurement of Cr(VI). This nanostructured electrode is highly stable and it can be used for continuous measurement of Cr(VI) without using any pretreatment or activation procedures. The accuracy of the measurement has been validated by measuring the concentration of Cr(VI) in the certified reference material (CRM).