KCS

Functionalized polyterthiophenes comprising graphene were synthesized in a solution containing graphene and functionalized tertiophene monomer. Interaction between functional groups of graphene oxide (GO) and the monomers in an aprotic nonaqueous solution offers the formation of uniform and stable composited layer. Morphologies and compositions of the polymer materials were confirmed using SEM, FE-TEM, and XPS analyses, which show homogeneous and functionalized poly(terthiophenes-GO) composition. We observed that the heavy metal ions (Zn(II), Cd(II), Pb(II), Cu(II), and Hg(II)) can be deposited on the composited polymer layer via the complex formation reaction. Thus, stripping voltammetry was performed for the analysis of the ions in very low concentration by scanning the potential from -1.5 to +0.5 V after preconcentration. The results show the distinct anodic stripping peak of each ion at -1.1, -0.75, -0.49, -0.05, +0.15V, corresponding to Zn(II), Cd(II), Pb(II), Cu(II), and Hg(II) ions, showing detection limit of ~1ppb.