Prussian Blue Nanoparticle-Modified Glassy Carbon Electrode for Electrochemical Determination of Thallium(I)

Abstract

Thallium (Tl), a heavy metal, has potentially harmful effects on human health due to its extreme toxicity. The determination of Tl is critical, and thus, there is a need for the development of electrochemical sensors that can swiftly identify its presence in the environment. A one-step hydrothermal synthesis of Prussian blue (PB) was utilized to adsorb thallium and electrochemically activate PB. The structure and morphology of PB were characterized through a scanning electron microscope, X-ray energy spectroscopy, X-ray diffraction, Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy, and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy. The PB-modified electrode’s determination performance was optimized using the square wave voltammetry method. This included the optimization of support electrolyte, pH, deposition potential, and deposition time. Under optimal experimental conditions, the electrode demonstrated a favorable electrochemical response to thallium concentrations between 10 and 500 μg/L, with a detection limit of 1.94 μg/L. In summary, this sensor’s outcomes are satisfactory and enhance the utility of PB nanomaterials in electrochemically detecting the heavy metal Tl.