Progress on sensors based on nanomaterials for rapid detection of heavy metal ions

The heavy metal ions, especially Cd2+, Pb2+ and Hg2+, show extremely hazard to the environment and human being. The measurement of heavy metal ions using sensors is catching more and more attention for its advantages of high sensitivity and selectivity, low-cost, convenience to handle and rapid detection. In recent years, nanomaterials such as gold nanoparticles (NPs), magnetic nanoparticles, graphene and nanocomposite materials are applied in sensors for improving sensitivity and selectivity, making the research on electrochemical (EC) sensors, spectrometric biosensors and colorimetric biosensors become a hot spot in the application to investigate heavy metal ions, in particular, Cd2+, Pb2+ and Hg2+. In this short review, the research of advanced detection of Cd2+, Pb2+ and Hg2+ and its progress based on nanomaterial sensors in recent years is reviewed.