Development of an Electrochemical Sensor for On-Site Detection of Perfluorooctane Sulfonic Acid (PFOS)

Perfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS), a toxic and persistent pollutant, poses significant environmental and health risks, making its detection crucial. This study developed silver nanoparticle (AgNP)-modified screen-printed carbon electrodes (SPCEs) for on-site PFOS detection and compared them with glassy carbon electrodes (GCEs). AgNPs were electrodeposited at various concentrations (1–9 mM) using amperometry. SEM-EDS confirmed increasing silver deposition with higher AgNO₃ concentrations, and cyclic voltammetry showed enhanced current responses with increased silver content. Differential pulse voltammetry revealed that 5 mM Ag/SPCE achieved the highest PFOS detection signal (Δi = 11.218 µA), demonstrating the effectiveness of AgNP-modified SPCEs for PFOS detection.