Highly selective piezoresistive sensor for mercury (Hg2+) ions detection using mercaptosuccinic acid-functionalized microcantilevers with cross-linked pyridinedicarboxylic acid
ISSN: 0260-2288
Article publication date: 30 July 2020
Issue publication date: 1 October 2020
Abstract
Purpose
This paper aims to report an insightful portable microfluidic system for rapid and selective sensing of Hg2+ in the picomolar (pM) concentration using microcantilever-based piezoresistive sensor. The detection time for various laboratory-based techniques is generally 12–24 h. The majority of modules used in the proposed platform are battery oriented; therefore, they are portable and handy to carry-out on-field investigations.
Design/methodology/approach
In this study, the authors have incorporated the benefit of three technologies, i.e. thin-film, nanoparticles (NPs) and micro-electro-mechanical systems, to selectively capture the Hg2+ at the pM concentration. The morphology and topography of the proposed sensor are characterized using field emission scanning electron microscopy and verification of the experimental results using energy dispersive X-ray.
Findings
The proposed portable microfluidic system is able to perform the detection in 5 min with a limit of detection (LOD) of 0.163 ng (0.81 pM/mL) for Hg2+, which perfectly describes its excellent performance over other reported techniques.
Research limitations/implications
A microcantilever-based technology is perfect for on-site detection, and a LOD of 0.163 ng (0.81 pM/mL) is outstanding compared to other techniques, but the fabrication of microcantilever sensor is complex.
Originality/value
Many researchers used NPs for heavy metal ions sensing, but the excess usage and industrialization of NPs are rapidly expanding harmful consequences on the human life and nature. Also, the LOD of the NPs-based method is limited to nanomolar concentration. The suggested microfluidic system used the benefit of thin-film and microcantilever devices to provide advancement over the NPs-based approach and it has a selective sensing in pM concentration.
Keywords
Acknowledgements
The authors would like to thank IIT Bombay for the support of AFM facility under INUP and “Visvesvaraya Ph.D. Scheme for Electronics and IT” funded by the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY) and FESEM facility under PUMP, NCPRE funded by the Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (MNRE), Government of India. The authors would also like to thank Dr D.V. Sangave, Principal Scientist, Nano Sniff Technologies Pvt. Ltd, for valuable support and guidance.
Citation
Rotake, D.R., Darji, A. and Kale, N.S. (2020), "Highly selective piezoresistive sensor for mercury (Hg2+) ions detection using mercaptosuccinic acid-functionalized microcantilevers with cross-linked pyridinedicarboxylic acid", Sensor Review, Vol. 40 No. 5, pp. 543-558. https://doi.org/10.1108/SR-05-2020-0125
Publisher
:Emerald Publishing Limited
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