Nanomaterials-Based Electrochemical Sensors for Heavy Metal Ions Detection

The emission and accumulation of heavy metals have been damaging our living situation. The ultrasensitive detection for heavy metal ions is an important area as it can alarm for pollution to protect the environment and help individual health. Electrochemical sensors known as the potential detecting methods attract the researcher’s attention and combined with nanomaterial constitute an active research area that could give opportunities for further development in heavy metal detection performance. To this end, this research gives a brief introduction to nanomaterials-based electrochemical sensors developed in recent years and focuses on the detection mechanism, advantages of using certain materials, the reason to achieve specific detection, and the electrochemical performances including their advantages and drawbacks. Whether individual detection of Hg(II), Pb(II), or the simultaneous detection of multiple heavy metals, all of those electrode systems show a bright future in actual environmental monitoring with high sensitivity, good repeatability and chemical stability.