Electrochemically active mercury nanodroplets trapped in a carbon nanoparticle - chitosan matrix

Liza Rassaei, Mika Sillanpää, Karen J. Edler, Frank Marken

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

21 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

A thin composite film of carbon nanoparticles (ca. 8 nm diameter) and chitosan biopolymer (poly-D-glucosamine, from chitin, 75-85% deacetylated) was prepared by evaporation from aqueous dispersion onto glassy carbon electrode surfaces. The amine groups in the chitosan biopolymer were used to effectively bind Hg(II) ions from an aqueous pH 5 KCl solution. During redox cycling voltammetric responses for bound mercury are readily observed and mercury nanodroplets (ca. 5.4 (± 1.0) nm diameter based on SAXS measurements) are formed in the film by applying a negative potential. The binding of Hg(II) ions to the chitosan-carbon nanoparticle film occurs with an approximate Langmuirian constant of 2.7 × 104 mol-1dm3 and the process is dependent on (i) the chitosan content in the film, (ii) the Hg 2+ concentration, and (iii) the immobilization time. The immobilized mercury nanodroplets within the carbon nanoparticle - chitosan film are electrochemically active and allow the co-deposition of other metals in the form of amalgams. Preliminary experiments for the anodic stripping voltammetry for Pb2+ and for Cu2+ are demonstrated. Mercury nanodroplet modified chitosan - carbon nanoparticle film electrodes represent a novel electroanalytical tool.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)261-266
Number of pages6
JournalElectroanalysis
Volume21
Issue number3-5
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - Feb 2009
Externally publishedYes

Keywords

  • Carbon nanoparticles
  • Chitosan
  • Mercury
  • Nanodroplet
  • Sensor
  • Voltammetry

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Analytical Chemistry
  • Electrochemistry

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