Nanomolar Trace Metal Analysis of Copper at Gold Microband Arrays

• Published in: Journal of physics. Conference series Vol. 307; no. 1; pp. 12061 - 7
• Main Authors: Wahl, A, Dawson, K, Sassiat, N, Quinn, A J, O'Riordan, A
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Bristol IOP Publishing 01.01.2011
• Subjects: Anodic stripping; Arrays; Copper; Drinking water; Electrochemical analysis; Electrodes; Gold; Nanostructure; Photolithography; Physics; Sensors; Sulfuric acid; Trace metals; Underpotential deposition; Water sampling
• ISSN: 1742-6596; 1742-6588; 1742-6596
• DOI: 10.1088/1742-6596/307/1/012061

This paper describes the fabrication and electrochemical characterization of gold microband electrode arrays designated as a highly sensitive sensor for trace metal detection of copper in drinking water samples. Gold microband electrodes have been routinely fabricated by standard photolithographic methods. Electrochemical characterization were conducted in 0.1 M H2SO4 and found to display characteristic gold oxide formation and reduction peaks. The advantages of gold microband electrodes as trace metal sensors over currently used methods have been investigated by employing under potential deposition anodic stripping voltammetry (UPD-ASV) in Cu2+ nanomolar concentrations. Linear correlations were observed for increasing Cu2+ concentrations from which the concentration of an unknown sample of drinking water was estimated. The results obtained for the estimation of the unknown trace copper concentration in drinking was in good agreement with expected values.