Microfabricated electrochemical analysis system
for heavy metal detection

Richard J. Reay^a, Anthony F. Flannery^a, Christopher W. Storment^a,
Samuel P. Kounaves^b, Gregory T.A. Kovacs^a

^aDepartment of Electrical Engineering, CIS 130, M/C 4070, Stanford, CA 94305-4070, USA
^bDepartment of Chemistry, Tufts University, Medford, MA, USA

Abstract

A low power, hand-held system has been developed for the measurement of heavy metal ions in aqueous solutions. The system consists of an electrode array sensor, a high performance single chip potentiostat and a microcontroller circuit. The sensor is a microfabricated array of iridium electrodes, onto which a thin film of mercury is electroplated. Quantitative heavy metal analysis is performed using square-wave anodic stripping voltammetry. Measured results show a one part-per-billion sensitivity and multiple use capability.