Tailoring SWCNTs surface morphology using PEI for highly selective and stable detection of Cu2+ heavy metal ion: a nanosensing platform.

Novel and facile investigation applying polyethylenimine (PEI) functionalised Single-wall Carbon Nanotubes (SWCNTs) for detection of heavy metal ion, copper (Cu2+) ions has been studied as a nanosensing platform. PEI/SWCNTs shows highly selective and rapid detection of Cu2+ ions since SWCNTs having large surface area shows high porosity and high chemical reactivity towards Cu2+ ions with high stability. FESEM and Raman Spectra measurements have been employed for characterising the nanocomposite and these techniques indicate that the PEI functionalised SWCNTs have been favourably synthesised. The detection of Cu2+ ions on the fabricated PEI/SWCNTs nanocomposite has been carried out by UV-vis spectroscopy. This study illustrates that PEI@SWCNTs nanoplatform is highly sensitive for selective and stable sensing of Cu2+ ions in the range of 0.01 µM to 100 µM with lower limit of detection (LOD) of 6.2 nM in aqueous medium. Selectivity and stability studies suggest that it is a unique and versatile platform for detection of copper ions rather in complex mediums with long-term usability. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]