A nanocomposite
containing palladium nanoparticles embedded on
bismuth sulfide nanorods (Pd@Bi2S3) was synthesized
based on a solvothermal method. The structural features, composition,
and morphology were characterized by XRD, FT-IR, FE-SEM-EDS, FE-TEM,
HAADF-STEM, XPS, N2 physisorption, and UV–vis. Further
electrochemical measurements by EIS, CV, DPV, and LSV techniques were
done. It revealed that Pd@Bi2S3/GCE were exploited
as electrochemical sensors for the detection of toxic mercuric ions
(Hg2+), which provides a wide linear range of 0.049–445
μM, excellent sensitivity of 1.17 μA μM–1 cm–2, and detection limit of 13.5 nM. The modified
electrode has also been successfully applied for the detection of
Hg2+ in sea fish, river fish, and water samples. The Pd@Bi2S3/GCE signifies a robust, usability, and highly
effective method for trace level detection of Hg2+ ions.
Furthermore, these Pd@Bi2S3 bifunctional catalysts
were discovered to have good photoreduction activity for Hg2+ ions upon the visible-light irradiation.