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Simultaneous detection of lead and cadmium based on N-doped MoS2/MWCNTs nanocomposites

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Abstract

Heavy metal pollution in the environment has posed a serious threat to human health and ecosystems. Therefore, it is urgent to develop a fast and effective sensing method for detecting heavy metal ions (HMIs). A simple and rapid ultrasonic mixing method was used to prepare nanocomposites consisting of cysteine, multi-walled carbon nanotubes, and nitrogen-doped molybdenum disulfide (L-Cys/MWCNTs/N-MoS2). Fully combining the excellent features of 2D materials and carbon nanomaterials, the nanocomposites have been successfully used as sensor interface materials for the simultaneous detection of lead ions (Pb2+) and cadmium ions (Cd2+). The L-Cys/MWCNTs/N-MoS2@GCE sensor has a wide linear range for the detection of Pb2+ and Cd2+, with the detection limits as low as 0.67 nM and 5.3 nM, respectively. In addition, the sensor performs well in stability, reproducibility, and anti-interference performance. The L-Cys/MWCNTs/N-MoS2@GCE sensor can also be used for the detection of Pb2+ and Cd2+ in tap water and lake water with good recovery (> 90%), which may provide a promising strategy for the simultaneous in situ and sensitive detection of heavy metal ions in the aqueous environment.

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Acknowledgements

Thanks to the support of the National Natural Science Foundation of China (No. 61904049), 14th Five-Year Plan National Key R&D Project (2021YFD1700904-04) and the Top Talent Program of Henan Agricultural University.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. College of Mechanical and Electrical Engineering, Henan Agricultural University, Zhengzhou, 450002, China

    Hengchao Zhang, Yarou Li, Yupan Zhang, Junfeng Wu, Jiandong Hu, Shixin Li & Lanlan Li

  2. Henan International Joint Laboratory of Laser Technology in Agriculture Sciences, Zhengzhou, 450002, China

    Junfeng Wu, Jiandong Hu & Lanlan Li

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  1. Hengchao Zhang
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  2. Yarou Li
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  3. Yupan Zhang
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  6. Shixin Li
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  7. Lanlan Li
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Correspondence to Shixin Li or Lanlan Li.

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Zhang, H., Li, Y., Zhang, Y. et al. Simultaneous detection of lead and cadmium based on N-doped MoS2/MWCNTs nanocomposites. J Mater Sci 58, 6643–6655 (2023). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10853-023-08424-4

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