Construction of a carbon nanocomposite electrode based on amino acids functionalized gold nanoparticles for trace electrochemical detection of mercury.

A simple, highly sensitive and selective carbon nanocomposite electrode has been developed for the electrochemical trace determination of mercury. This mercury nanocomposite sensor was designed by incorporation of thiolated amino acids capped AuNps into the carbon ionic liquid electrode (CILE) which provides remarkably improved sensitivity and selectivity for the electrochemical stripping assay of Hg(II). Mercury ions are expected to interact with amino acids through cooperative metal-ligand interaction to form a stable complex which provides a sensitive approach for electrochemical detection of Hg(II) in the presence of other metal ions. The detection limit was found to be 2.3 nM (S/N = 3) that is lower than the permitted value of Hg(II) reported by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) limit of Hg(II) for drinkable water. The proposed nanocomposite electrode exhibits good applicability for monitoring Hg(II) in tap and waste water.