Electrochemical Detection Platforms for Environmental Contaminants

Electrochemical detection platforms have emerged as versatile tools for monitoring a wide range of environmental contaminants, including heavy metals, pesticides, organic pollutants and pathogenic microorganisms. These platforms typically comprise a working electrode, reference and counter electrodes, and an electrochemical transducer that converts chemical interactions at the interface into measurable electrical signals. Advances in electrode materials—ranging from carbon-based matrices (graphene, carbon nanotubes) to metal and metal-oxide nanoparticles—have significantly enhanced sensitivity and selectivity. The incorporation of functional nanocomposites enables rapid electron transfer, large active surface area and tailored binding sites for target analytes. Detection modes such as voltammetry, amperometry and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy permit quantification across broad concentration ranges, down to sub-nanomolar levels. Recent innovations focus on non-enzymatic sensors to circumvent enzyme instability, printable and miniaturised platforms for in situ and real-time monitoring, and multiplexed arrays for simultaneous detection of multiple pollutants. Challenges remain in addressing matrix interferences, ensuring reproducibility and achieving standardisation for field deployment. Nevertheless, electrochemical sensors offer cost-effective, portable and rapid screening solutions that are increasingly integral to environmental risk assessment and regulatory compliance worldwide.

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Electrochemical Detection Platforms for Environmental Contaminants publication trend

The graph below shows the total number of articles in electrochemical detection platforms for environmental contaminants across all publications each year (not limited to Nature Index journals).

Technical terms

Electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS): A technique that measures the impedance of an electrochemical system over a range of frequencies to characterise interfacial processes and sensor properties.

Voltammetry: An electroanalytical method where the current is measured while the potential of the working electrode is varied, enabling quantification of analyte concentration.

Amperometry: A detection mode in which a constant electrode potential is applied and the resulting current—proportional to analyte concentration—is monitored over time.

Limit of detection (LOD): The smallest concentration of an analyte that can be reliably distinguished from background noise under defined experimental conditions.

Electrode modifier: A material—often a nanomaterial or polymer—deposited on the electrode surface to enhance sensitivity, selectivity and electron-transfer kinetics.

Nanocomposite: A composite material in which one of the phases has at least one dimension in the nanometre range, used to improve functional properties of sensors.

References

1. Recent Progress in Non-Enzymatic Electroanalytical Detection of Pesticides Based on the Use of Functional Nanomaterials as Electrode Modifiers. Biosensors (2022).
2. Electrochemical Sensor Based on Laser-Induced Graphene for Carbendazim Detection in Water. Foods (2023).
3. Dioctylsulfosuccinate Functionalized NiAl‐Layered Double Hydroxide for Sensitive Fenuron Electroanalysis Using a Carbon Paste Electrode. Journal of Analytical Methods in Chemistry (2024).