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Sub-ppt level voltammetric sensor for Hg2+ detection based on nafion stabilized l-cysteine-capped Au@Ag core-shell nanoparticles

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Abstract

Bimetallic nanoparticles (BMNPs) have received considerable attention due to their distinctive properties when compared to the corresponding monometallic NPs and their bulk counterpart. In this report, the formation of gold@silver core-shell nanoparticles (Au@AgCSNPs) was achieved via a one-pot synthetic approach after mixing 1:1 M solutions of Au and Ag ions. L-cysteine was used as reducing as well as cap** agent for preparing Au@AgCSNPs. Ultraviolet-visible (UV-Vis) spectroscopy was employed for surface plasmon study while Fourier-transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy gave insights for interaction of NPs with specific functionality of the cap** material. Surface morphology of the fabricated Au@AgCSNPs, probed by atomic force microscopy (AFM), indicated an average height of nanoparticles around 43 ± 3 nm and their crystallinity were confirmed via powder X-ray diffraction (PXRD) study. Significantly, the as synthesized Au@AgCSBMNPs were fabricated onto the conductive surface of glassy carbon electrode (GCE), stabilized with nafion, and then utilized as an extremely sensitive/greatly selective sensor for voltammetric detection of Hg2+. The developed sensor responded linearly to Hg2+ between 0.001 and 19 ppb with limit of detection (LOD) as low as 0.0001 ppb (0.1 ppt). Finally, the sensor was effectively applied for Hg2+ detection in different groundwater samples and is workable at concentrations undetectable by several sensing tools.

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Funding

The Higher Education Commission financially supported the study. The International Scientific Partnership Program (ISPP) at King Saud University funded of this research work through ISPP #0022.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. National Center of Excellence in Analytical Chemistry, University of Sindh, Jamshoro, Sindh, 76080, Pakistan

    Samia Siddiqui,  Sirajuddin, Farah N. Talpur, Syed Tufail H. Sherazi & Tayyaba Shaikh

  2. Department of Chemistry, College of Science, King Saud University, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia

    Ayman Nafady & Ali M. Alsalme

  3. Chemistry Department, Faculty of Science, Sohag University, Sohag, 82524, Egypt

    Ayman Nafady & Hussein M. El-Sagher

  4. Department of Chemistry, College of Science, Princess Nourah bint Abdulrahman University, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia

    Sameerah I. Al-Saeedi

  5. International Centre for Chemical and Biological Sciences, HEJ Research Institute of Chemistry, University of Karachi, Karachi, 75270, Pakistan

    Sirajuddin & Muhammad R. Shah

  6. Institute of Physics, University of Sindh, Jamshoro, 76080, Pakistan

    Muhammad S. Kalhoro

  7. Dr. M. A. Kazi Institute of Chemistry, University of Sindh, Jamshoro, 76080, Pakistan

    Munazza Arain

  8. Centre for Advanced Materials & Industrial Chemistry (CAMIC), School of Applied Sciences, RMIT University, GPO BOX 2476, Melbourne, 3001, Australia

    Suresh K. Bhargava

Authors
  1. Samia Siddiqui
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  2. Ayman Nafady
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  3. Hussein M. El-Sagher
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  4. Sameerah I. Al-Saeedi
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  5. Ali M. Alsalme
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  6. Sirajuddin
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  7. Farah N. Talpur
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  8. Syed Tufail H. Sherazi
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  9. Muhammad S. Kalhoro
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  10. Muhammad R. Shah
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  11. Tayyaba Shaikh
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  12. Munazza Arain
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  13. Suresh K. Bhargava
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Correspondence to Ayman Nafady or Sirajuddin.

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Highlights

A facile method was developed for synthesis of bimetallic Au@Ag core-shell nanoparticles.

These nanoparticles were used as highly sensitive and selective sensor for Hg2+.

Fabricated voltammetric sensor was successfully applied for Hg2+ detection in natural water samples.

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Siddiqui, S., Nafady, A., El-Sagher, H.M. et al. Sub-ppt level voltammetric sensor for Hg2+ detection based on nafion stabilized l-cysteine-capped Au@Ag core-shell nanoparticles. J Solid State Electrochem 23, 2073–2083 (2019). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10008-019-04298-2

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