Carbon nanofiber electrode array for the detection of lead

•Patterned carbon nanofibers using hole-mask colloidal lithography•Conducted a trace heavy metal analysis using anodic stripping voltammetry•Elucidated the performance of the arrays when the density is altered

A nanoelectrode array of vertically aligned carbon nanofibers was evaluated for the detection of Pb2 + by anodic stripping voltammetry. The achieved detection limit of 1.73 nM is well below the environmental guidelines. The approach provides a safer alternative to the mercury electrodes commonly used for the detection of heavy metals.