A wearable electrode based on copper nanoparticles for rapid determination of paraquat

The application of copper-based nanoparticles synthesized via green synthesis and their integration with a wearable electrode is reported for designing a flexible catalytic electrode on a glove for onsite electroanalysis of paraquat. A copper precursor and an orange extract from Citrus reticulata are used to synthesize an economical electrocatalytic material for supporting the selective and sensitive detection of paraquat. The electrode yields multidimensional fingerprints due to two redox couples in a square wave voltammogram, corresponding to the presence of paraquat. The developed lab-on-a-finger sensor provides the fast electroanalysis of paraquat within 10 s, covering a wide range from 0.50 to 1000 mu M, with a low detection limit down to 0.31 mu M and high selectivity. It is also possible to use this sensor at a fast scan rate as high as 6 V s(-1) (< 0.5 s for a scan). This wearable glove sensor allows the user to directly touch and analyze samples, such as surfaces of vegetables and fruits, to screen the contamination. It is envisioned that these glove-embedded sensors can be applied to the on-site analysis of food contamination and environments.

Automated summary

This study reports the application of copper-based nanoparticles synthesized via green synthesis and their integration with a wearable electrode for designing a flexible catalytic electrode on a glove. The developed lab-on-a-finger sensor enables fast electroanalysis of paraquat within 10 seconds, with a wide range of detection from 0.50 to 1000 μM and a low detection limit of 0.31 μM. The wearable glove sensor allows direct touch and analysis of samples for on-site analysis of food contamination and environments.