A simple approach for on-site fabrication of copper-based paper device: Disposable electrochemical sensor for the estimation of lead

In this study, we are reporting a first of its kind fabrication strategy for paper-based electrochemical device that do not require sophisticated printing setup, or software, and need not to prepare ink and draw electrodes. Inexpensive adhesive copper electrode is used instead of expensive gold, platinum, carbon, or silver electrodes. In a completely new approach, copper conducting tape was exploited to fabricate electrodes onto desired paper substrate. On-site fabrication of the copper-based paper device can be done in two simple steps. First, just by cutting the paper and conducting tape to the required shape and dimensions. Then, taking off the protective layer from the cut conducting tapes and sticking onto the piece of paper in a particular order. Paper based electrochemical sensing (PES) device fabricated using copper conducting tape was efficient enough to detect Pb(II) ions in a liner range 1 mg L-1 to 10 mg L-1. Analytical figures of merit such as coefficient of determination (R2), LOD, and LOQ were investigated and were found to be 0.985, 0.927 mg L-1, and 2.808 mg L-1 respectively. The competency of the proposed fabrication strategy and device thereof was thoroughly examined by studying the applicability of the PES device for the detection of Pb(II) ions in real water samples. The recovery percentage of the analyzed water sample was nearly 100. It was evident from the results that the proposed strategy and the fabricated PES device using copper conducting tape can be extended for point of care testing of Pb(II) ions.