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Nanostructure Restoration of Thermally Reduced Graphene Oxide Electrode upon Incorporation of Nafion for Detection of Trace Heavy Metals in Aqueous Solution
Author(s) -
Lee Pui Mun,
Ng Hai Woon,
Lim Ju Dy,
Khun Nay Win,
Chen Zhong,
Liu Erjia
Publication year - 2016
Publication title -
electroanalysis
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.574
H-Index - 128
eISSN - 1521-4109
pISSN - 1040-0397
DOI - 10.1002/elan.201501099
Subject(s) - materials science , nafion , graphene , x ray photoelectron spectroscopy , oxide , aqueous solution , cyclic voltammetry , raman spectroscopy , voltammetry , inorganic chemistry , analytical chemistry (journal) , electrode , chemical engineering , electrochemistry , nanotechnology , chemistry , metallurgy , physics , optics , chromatography , engineering
High performance reduced graphene oxide (RGO)‐Nafion (N) thin film electrodes coated on silicon (Si) substrates (RGO‐N/Si) were successfully developed through thermal reduction of GO‐N without delamination from the substrates. The restoration of the RGO‐N nanostructure upon the addition of Nafion was proven by Raman spectroscopy (RS) and field emission scanning electron microscopy, and the restoration mechanism of the RGO‐N nanostructure was proposed. Through the investigation using x‐ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), the polyfluorocarbon from Nafion possessed a function that could prevent the delamination of the RGO sheets from the substrates during the thermal reduction. The RGO‐N/Si samples were later used for the determination of trace heavy metals, such as divalent lead, cadmium and copper ions (Pb 2+ , Cd 2+ and Cu 2+ , respectively) using square wave anodic stripping voltammetry in a 0.1 M acetate buffer solution (pH 5). Based on the electroanalytical measurements, the RGO‐N/Si samples exhibited a highly linear behavior in the detection of Cd 2+ , Pb 2+ and Cu 2+ over the concentration range of 50 nM to 300 nM with detection limits at nM levels. In addition, the RGO‐N/Si samples presented good recoveries of target metals in tap water samples.