Selective detection of trace amount of Cu2+ using semiconductor nanoparticles in photoelectrochemical analysis

A highly sensitive and selective photoelectrochemical sensor for Cu2+ was developed based on the selective interaction between CdS quantum dots (QDs) immobilized on an indium tin oxide (ITO) electrode surface and Cu2+ in a triethanolamine (TEA) solution to form CuxS-doped CdS QDs, which disrupts the electron transfer from the conduction band of CdS to ITO and results in a decrease of photocurrent.