A 3D phytic acid cross-linked high-porous conductive hydrogel integrating g-C3N4 for electrochemical multiplex sensing of heavy metal ions

It is a great challenge to develop an effective super-sensitive capture method for multiplex heavy metal ions (HMIs), because HMIs is extremely toxic to public health and the environment, what's more their contamination is usually multiplex ions pollution. In this work, a 3D high-porous conductive polymer hydrogel was designed and prepared with high-stable and easy mass production, which is very favorable for the industrialization. The polymer hydrogel (g-C3N4-P(Ani-Py)-PAAM) was formed from the mixture of aniline pyrrole copolymer and acrylamide cross-linked with phytic acid as dopant and cross-linker and integrated with g-C3N4. The 3D networked high-porous hydrogel not only exhibits excellent electrical conductivity, but also provides a large surface area for increasing the number of immobilized ions. Importantly, the 3D high-porous conductive polymer hydrogel was applied successfully in electrochemical multiplex sensing of HIMs. The prepared sensor used differential pulse anodic stripping voltammetry exhibited high sensitivities, low detection limit and wide detection ranges for Cd2+, Pb2+, Hg2+ and Cu2+, respectively. Moreover, the sensor showed a high accuracy in lake water test. The preparation and application of the hydrogel in electrochemical sensor provided an availability strategy to capture and detect the various HMIs by electrochemistry in solution and has great commercial application prospect.

Automated summary

In this study, a 3D high-porous conductive polymer hydrogel was developed for the effective capture of multiplex heavy metal ions. The hydrogel exhibited excellent electrical conductivity and a large surface area for increased ion immobilization. The sensor based on the hydrogel showed high sensitivities, low detection limit, and wide detection ranges for Cd2+, Pb2+, Hg2+, and Cu2+. Additionally, it demonstrated high accuracy in lake water testing.