Potentiometric Sensors of Heavy Metals in Environmental Samples Using Different Materials

Heavy metal pollution is currently a major problem globally, threatening public and environmental health, and ecosystem functioning, requiring urgent solutions and mitigation strategies. Thus, the determination and monitoring of heavy metals in diverse environmental samples is of high critical importance, considering the significant risks posed by these elements. Many potentiometric sensors have been developed in the past for the determination of different heavy metal ions present in environmental samples using various sensor materials including poly(vinly chloride) membranes, carbon nanotubes composite membranes, metal-organic frameworks, ionic liquids, and nanoparticles. In this review, we covered these electrochemical devices, focusing comparatively on their certain potentiometric performance parameters such as linear working range, stability, response time and limit of detection, and also highlighted their potential applicability areas in diverse fields, with the ultimate aim of contributing to the limitation and prevention of heavy metal pollution in the environment.