Voltammetric study and electrochemical detection of hexavalent chromium at gold nanoparticle-electrodeposited indium tinoxide (ITO) electrodes in acidic media

Talanta. 2008 Jul 30;76(3):533-9. doi: 10.1016/j.talanta.2008.03.043. Epub 2008 Apr 4.

Abstract

The voltammetric behavior of hexavalent chromium species (Cr(VI)) was respectively studied at ITO, bulk Au, and Au-electrodeposited electrodes in 0.01 M NaCl aqueous solutions containing 0.01 M HCl. It was found that performance degradation of the ITO electrodes toward the reduction of Cr(VI) can be suppressed by modifying the electrode surface with gold nanoparticles (AuNPs), which were formed on ITO electrodes by potential-sweeping or potential-step electrodeposition in a 0.01 M Na(2)SO(4) solution containing 1 mM HAuCl(4) x 3 H(2)O and 0.01 M H(2)SO(4). After the modification, the surface of ITO electrodes turned to the characteristically red or blue color exhibited by AuNPs. The gold nanoparticle-electrodeposited indium-tinoxide electrode (AuNP-ITO) demonstrates unique catalytic behavior, higher sensitivity and stability in the reduction of Cr(VI). Cr(VI) species was detected by either cyclic voltammetry or hydrodynamic amperometry. By cyclic voltammetry, the dependence of cathodic peak current on concentration was linear from 5 to 100 microM with a detection limit of 2 microM (sigma=3), and linearity was obtained from 0.5 to 50 microM by hydrodynamic amperometry where a constant potential of +0.2V (vs. Ag/AgCl) was applied and a batch-injection cell was employed. For hydrodynamic amperometry, the detection limit was 0.1 microM (sigma=3).

Publication types

  • Evaluation Study
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Acids
  • Chromium / analysis*
  • Electrochemistry / methods*
  • Electrochemistry / standards
  • Indium
  • Ion-Selective Electrodes / standards*
  • Metal Nanoparticles / chemistry*
  • Tin Compounds

Substances

  • Acids
  • Tin Compounds
  • Indium
  • Chromium
  • chromium hexavalent ion
  • stannic oxide