Ultrasensitive Ion Imprinted Polypyrole Polymer Based Piezoelectric Sensors for Selective Detection of Lead Ions

Surface acoustic wave sensors functionalized with a thin layers of polypyrrole ionic imprinted polymer were designed and realized for the selective detection of lead ions. Polypyrrole films were electrodeposited on gold surface and acrylic acid was used as a chelating agent. Detection of the analyte is ensured by the strong affinity between carboxylic groups and lead ions. The detection limit of, the developed IIP piezoelectric sensor was of order of 0.1 pM, largely inferior to the maximum allowable concentration required by the European Commission for lead and its compounds (of order of 0.48 μM). Selectivity tests investigated with cobalt, copper, mercury and nickel ions, indicate that the designed sensors are selective of lead ions.