Detection of lead and cadmium with electrochemically reduced graphene oxide–carbon cloth sensors

Abstract

Electrochemically reduced graphene oxide (ERGO) was electrodeposited on carbon cloth (CC) substrates using cyclic voltammetry (CV). The combination of ERGO and CC provides a simple, high-surface-area sensor that is sensitive to heavy metals such as lead and cadmium. The ERGO-CC deposition was optimized to detect dissolved lead and cadmium ions. Lead was detectable down to 0.25 nM, and cadmium down to 40 nM (S/N > 3). The sensors were able to detect both HMI with no interference in the presence of other ions and a real water sample. Furthermore, the sensor substrate size was scalable down to a single thread. Graphical abstract: [Figure not available: see fulltext.].