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

• A modified electrode for heavy metal detection is constructed using electrochemically deposited graphene/bismuth composite.
• A stable graphene/bismuth nanocomposite film was formed on the electrode surface without any further treatment.
• Excellent stripping performance for trace zinc, cadmium and lead was obtained.
• The proposed electrochemical method was successfully applied to the analysis of trace metals in real samples.

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 100 μg L− 1 for Zn2 +, Cd2 +, and Pb2 +. The detection limits were 1.80 μg L− 1 for Zn2 +, 0.18 μg L− 1 for Cd2 +, and 0.11 μg L− 1 for Pb2 + (S/N = 3). The EG/Bi nanocomposite film electrode was successfully applied to the analysis of trace metals in real environments.

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