Enhanced electrochemical detection of Pb²⁺ using α-AgVO3 modified carbon paste electrode
摘要
This work reports the development of an electrochemical sensor based on a carbon paste electrode (CPE) modified with α-AgVO₃ nanoparticles for the sensitive detection of lead (Pb²⁺) in water. The α-AgVO₃/CPE displayed superior electrocatalytic activity toward Pb²⁺ compared with the bare CPE, attributed to its enhanced surface area, excellent conductivity, and strong Pb–surface affinity. Cyclic voltammetry (CV) and square wave voltammetry (SWV) confirmed improved current responses and a clear redox shift, indicating facilitated electron transfer. Under optimized conditions (0.1 M HCl as supporting electrolyte, pH 5.0, deposition potential of − 0.3 V, and deposition time of 240 s), the sensor achieved a linear response across two dynamic ranges (1.0 × 10⁻⁴ to 2.0 × 10⁻⁸ M). The calculated limit of detection (LOD) was 3.28 × 10⁻⁸ M, and the limit of quantification (LOQ) was 1.09 × 10⁻⁷ M. Compared with existing Pb²⁺ sensors, the α-AgVO₃/CPE demonstrated competitive sensitivity, fast response, and low cost. These findings suggest that the proposed electrode is a promising candidate for practical Pb²⁺ monitoring in environmental water samples, although further studies on long-term stability and interference effects are warranted.