Lead
ions (Pb2+) are poisonous heavy metal pollutants
that pose a constant threat to human health. To address this issue
and develop a rapid and selective detection method for lead ions in
various bodies of water, a highly sensitive sensor based on a glass
carbon electrode modified with solid solution quantum dots (SSQDs)
was constructed. The use of Cu-doped CeO2 SSQDs with extremely
reduced size enhances the electroactive area due to their abundant
edge sites and significant surface charge imbalance. The sensor exhibits
exceptional sensitivity, selectivity, reproducibility, and stability
for anodic stripping voltammetry analysis of Pb2+. Under
optimal conditions, the sensor achieves a lower detection limit of
5.652 pM. In natural water samples, the recoveries of Pb2+ ranged from 97.6 to 105.0% with a relative standard deviation below
4.7%. The superior electrochemical performance of the sensor suggests
its significant potential for detecting heavy lead ions in a variety
of applications.