A Fully Integrated and Miniaturized Heavy-metal-detection Sensor Based on Micro-patterned Reduced Graphene Oxide

Abstract

For this paper, a fully integrated and highly miniaturized electrochemical sensor was designed and fabricated on a silicon substrate. A solvothermal-assisted reduced graphene oxide named “TRGO” was then successfully micro-patterned using a lithography technique, followed by the electrodeposition of bismuth (Bi) on the surface of the micro-patterned TRGO for the electrochemical detection of heavy metal ions. The fully integrated electrochemical micro-sensor was then measured and evaluated for the detection of cadmium and lead-heavy metal ions in an acetic-acid buffered solution using the square wave anodic stripping voltammetry (SWASV) technique. The fabricated micro-sensor exhibited a linear detection range of 1.0 μg L ⁻¹ to 120.0 μg L ⁻¹ for both of the metal ions, and detection limits of 0.4 μg L ⁻¹ and 1.0 μg L ⁻¹ were recorded for the lead and cadmium (S/N = 3), respectively. Drinking-water samples were used for the practical assessment of the fabricated micro-sensor, and it showed an acceptable detection performance regarding the metal ions.