Copper tape to improve analytical performance of disposable carbon electrodes in stripping analysis

Copper plays critical roles in replacing aluminum as interconnects in fabrication of integrated circuits because of its excellent electric conductivity. Herein low-cost copper tape was used as the substrate to enhance analytical performance of disposable carbon electrodes. The copper tape was laminated with plastic films and then its exposed area was coated with carbon cement to form disposable carbon electrodes, which were then coupled in paper-based analytical devices for stripping analysis of heavy metals in corns. With this strategy, linear re-lationships could be achieved between electrochemical responses and concentrations of both Cd2+ and Pb2+ in the range of 1 to 1000 mu g.L-1. Compared with stainless steel and aluminum, the copper substrate could significantly improve electrochemical responses of Cd2+ and Pb2+. Such enhancement could be ascribed to the excellent electric conductivity of copper, which is similar to its roles of interconnects in integrated circuits. Our approach could be successfully applied for detection of Pb in corns with similar results to ICP-MS. This study suggested an alternative way to simply and efficiently improve analytical performance of disposable electrodes for extensive applications of electrochemical detection.