Department of Chemical Sciences, University of Johannesburg, Doornfontein Campus, P.O. Box 17011, Doornfontein 2028, South Africa.
DST/NRF SARChI Chair, Nanotechnology for Water, University of Johannesburg, Doornfontein 2028, South Africa.
Sensors (Basel). 2020 Dec 28;21(1):131. doi: 10.3390/s21010131.
The elevated concentrations of various trace metals beyond existing guideline recommendations in water bodies have promoted research on the development of various electrochemical nanosensors for the trace metals' early detection. Inspired by the exciting physical and chemical properties of nanomaterials, advanced functional nanocomposites with improved sensitivity, sensitivity and stability, amongst other performance parameters, have been synthesized, characterized, and applied on the detection of various trace metals in water matrices. Nanocomposites have been perceived as a solution to address a critical challenge of distinct nanomaterials that are limited by agglomerations, structure stacking leading to aggregations, low conductivity, and limited porous structure for electrolyte access, amongst others. In the past few years, much effort has been dedicated to the development of various nanocomposites such as; electrochemical nanosensors for the detection of trace metals in water matrices. Herein, the recent progress on the development of nanocomposites classified according to their structure as carbon nanocomposites, metallic nanocomposites, and metal oxide/hydroxide nanocomposites is summarized, alongside their application as electrochemical nanosensors for trace metals detection in water matrices. Some perspectives on the development of smart electrochemical nanosensors are also introduced.
水体中各种痕量金属的浓度升高，超过了现有指南建议的浓度，这促使人们研究开发各种电化学纳米传感器，以实现对痕量金属的早期检测。受纳米材料令人兴奋的物理和化学特性的启发，已经合成、表征并应用了具有改进的灵敏度、灵敏度和稳定性等性能参数的先进功能纳米复合材料，用于检测水基质中的各种痕量金属。纳米复合材料被认为是解决不同纳米材料的一个关键挑战的解决方案，这些纳米材料受到团聚、结构堆叠导致聚集、导电性低以及电解质进入的有限多孔结构等问题的限制。在过去的几年中，人们致力于开发各种纳米复合材料，例如用于检测水基质中痕量金属的电化学纳米传感器。本文根据其结构将纳米复合材料分为碳纳米复合材料、金属纳米复合材料和金属氧化物/氢氧化物纳米复合材料，并总结了它们作为电化学纳米传感器在检测水基质中痕量金属方面的应用。还介绍了一些关于智能电化学纳米传感器发展的观点。
