Amino-functionalized SiC electrodes for highly sensitive simultaneous detection of Pb2+, Cd2+, Cu2+, Hg2+

Abstract

Anthropogenic and industrial activities release toxic and non-biodegradable heavy metal ions (HMIs) into the environment, posing severe ecological risks even at trace concentrations and necessitating their critical detection. Voltammetry has been widely adopted as a mainstream analytical technique for this purpose, driving the demand for low-cost electrode materials that offer high sensitivity, low detection limits, and excellent stability. Low-dimensional silicon carbide (SiC) materials hold great promise for electrochemical applications owing to their abundant active sites, large specific surface area, facile surface functionalization, and exceptional robustness in harsh environments including extreme temperatures, strong acids, and strong alkalis. Despite these advantages, studies on the application of low-dimensional SiC materials for HMIs detection remain limited. In this work, we successfully synthesized modified SiC nanosheets and nanowires for the simultaneous electrochemical detection of Pb2+, Cd2+, Cu2+, and Hg2+. The as-prepared SiC-based electrodes exhibited lower detection limits and enhanced sensitivity compared to conventional electrodes. Moreover, they demonstrated excellent stability and reproducibility, underscoring their considerable potential for practical electrochemical sensing applications.