Synthesis of CuZrO3 nanocomposites/graphene and their application in modified electrodes for the co-detection of trace Pb(II) and Cd(II)

CuZrO 3 nanocomposites were prepared by chemical precipitation and oxidation at a high temperature (700 °C). The structural features of the fabricated CuZrO 3 nanocomposites (CuZrO 3 NCs) were elucidated by scanning electron microscopy (SEM), X-ray diffraction (XRD), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS). The results presented herein show that these nanocomposites formed a nanograde needle structure with high crystallinity. By mixing with graphene (Gr), a CuZrO 3 -Gr composite modified glassy carbon electrode (CuZrO 3 -Gr/GCE) was successfully constructed for the simultaneous electrochemical detection of Pb(II) and Cd(II) in a acetate (NaAc-HAc) buffer solution (pH 4.6) via square wave anodic stripping voltammetry (SWASV). Due to the synergetic effect of the CuZrO 3 nanoparticles and graphene, the CuZrO 3 -Gr/GCE showed excellent electrical conductivity and mechanical stability in the presence of Pb(II) and Cd(II) ions. The limits of detection were 0.1 μg L −1 for Pb(II) and 0.5 μg L −1 for Cd(II). Application of this method for the co-detection of two ions in soil samples is expected to obtain useful results and possess significant advantages over tradition detection methods.