Shrink-induced ultrasensitive mercury sensor with graphene and gold nanoparticles self-assembly

Here we report an ultrasensitive trace mercury(II) micro sensor based on heat-shrinkable polymer (polyolefins, PO). The layer-by-layer self-assembly (LBL SA) method was employed to modify mixed gold nanoparticle (Au NPs) and graphene solution on a micro gold electrode with PO substrate. The unique wrinkle structure of the electrode surface and superior properties of modification film enhanced the performance of LBL SA graphene–Au NPs shrink sensor greatly in determination of Hg(II) using anodic stripping voltammetry (ASV): compared with a shrink gold electrode without surface modification, the sensitivity was improved for about 3.7 times from 0.197 to 0.721 μA/ppb; compared with a same-sized sensor without surface modification nor shrink, the sensitivity was improved for over 50 times. This sensor’s detection limit of Hg(II) was achieved as 0.931 ppb with a sensitivity of 0.721 μA/ppb. This simple but highly sensitive sensor can be widely used in applications of on-line environmental monitoring of Hg(II).