Copper is one of
the extensively utilized heavy metals in modern
industry and can be easily released into the environment due to high
solubility of copper ions (Cu2+). Its percolation in water
and accumulation along the food chain pose a serious threat to human
health. Hence, it is of great significance to explore a novel, facile,
and sensitive detection method for Cu2+. Based on the intriguing
photo-to-electricity conversion process of CdS QDs, as well as desirable
electrochromic property of WO3 NFs, a dual-modal photoelectrochemical
(PEC) and visualized detection platform for Cu2+ is fabricated.
The electrochromic WO3 NFs act as a display for the Cu2+ concentration, of which the color change could be observed
directly by the naked eye, while the PEC signal provides accurate
data for further analysis. In this work, a sensitive detection of
Cu2+ in the range of 1 × 10–5 to
5 × 10–4 M is achieved, with a detection limit
of 3.2 × 10–6 M. The dual-modal analysis gives
more choices for signal readouts with enhanced quantification reliability,
which is adaptive for diverse application scenarios, especially for
on-site investigation. This protocol offers a prototype for quick
and reliable detection of the Cu2+ concentrations, and
is promising for other environmental pollutants.