Accurate determination of zinc in soil samples will help in soil-nutrient assessment and prevent overuse of fertilisers while measuring zinc in sweat samples can help signal early onset of muscular fatigue. Further, the sensor requires only few microliters of analyte, thus making it possible to detect zinc in sweat samples. A fixed voltage is applied to the electrodes and there is an increase in current when zinc binds to the porphyrin receptor on carbon nanotubes. If we directly coat the carbon nanotubes with porphyrin receptor, we cannot control the uniformity and number density of porphyrin,” says Prof. Subramaniam. “We already know which ion-receptor to use on carbon nanotubes to achieve perfect binding with each analyte,” he says.

Source: The Hindu October 19, 2019 12:55 UTC