The fabrication and characterization of a bismuth nanoparticle modified boron doped diamond electrode and its application to the simultaneous determination of cadmium(II) and lead(II)

We report the simultaneous electroanalytical determination of Pb²⁺ and Cd²⁺ by square-wave anodic stripping voltammetry (SWASV) using a bismuth nanoparticle modified boron doped diamond (Bi-BDD) electrode. Bi deposition was performed in situ with the analytes, from a solution of 0.1 mM Bi(NO₃)₃ in 0.1 M HClO₄ (pH 1.2), and gave detection limits of 1.9 µg L^-1 and 2.3 µg L^-1 for Pb(II) and Cd(II) respectively. Pb²⁺ and Cd²⁺ could not be detected simultaneously at a bare BDD electrode, whilst on a bulk Bi macro electrode (BiBE) the limits of detection for the simultaneous determination of Pb²⁺ and Cd²⁺ were ca. ten times higher.