Abstract

Background: Cyanide is a toxic anion and may be discarded into the water environment, which is a serious threat to human beings and the environment. Hence, it is essential to explore a facile, sensitive method for cyanide detection. Polyaniline/Cu vanadate nanobelts serve as electrode materials for sensitive cyanide determination.

Methods: Polyaniline/Cu vanadate nanobelts were obtained by a simple route using polyaniline, Cu vanadate nanobelts. The polyaniline/Cu vanadate nanobelts were measured via electron microscopy, diffraction, infrared spectrum, and electrochemical methods.

Results: Amorphous polyaniline nanoparticles with a particle size of about 100 nm were attached firmly to the surface of Cu vanadate nanobelts. Electrochemical sensing properties for cyanide detection were analyzed using a cyclic voltammetry technique using the nanobelts-modified electrode. The cyclic voltammograms (CV) peaks centered at +0.64 V and +0.54 V were observed using the polyaniline/Cu vanadate nanobelts in 0.1 M KCl solution with 2 mM cyanide. The proposed composite nanobelt-modified electrode possessed the detection range and detection limit of 0.001-2 mM and 0.22 μM, respectively.

Conclusion: Polyaniline greatly enhances the electro-catalytic performance of the Cu vanadate nanobelt-modified electrode for cyanide detection.

Keywords: Electrochemical sensing property, cyanide, polyaniline, Cu vanadate nanobelt, glassy carbon electrode