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Review

Biochar-Derived Electrochemical Sensors: A Green Route for Trace Heavy Metal Detection

by
Sairaman Saikrithika
1,2 and
Young-Joon Kim
1,2,*
1
Department of Electronic Engineering, Gachon University, Seongnam 13120, Republic of Korea
2
Department of Semiconductor Engineering, Gachon University, Seongnam 13120, Republic of Korea
*
Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.
Chemosensors 2025, 13(8), 278; https://doi.org/10.3390/chemosensors13080278 (registering DOI)
Submission received: 11 June 2025 / Revised: 23 July 2025 / Accepted: 30 July 2025 / Published: 1 August 2025
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Green Electrochemical Sensors for Trace Heavy Metal Detection)

Abstract

The increasing demand for rapid, sensitive, and eco-friendly methods for the detection of trace heavy metals in environmental samples, attributed to their serious threats to health and the environment, has spurred considerable interest in the development of sustainable sensor materials. Toxic metal ions, namely, lead (Pb2+), cadmium (Cd2+), mercury (Hg2+), arsenic (As3+), and chromium, are potential hazards due to their non-biodegradable nature with high toxicity, even at trace levels. Acute health complications, including neurological, renal, and developmental disorders, arise upon exposure to such metal ions. To monitor and mitigate these toxic exposures, sensitive detection techniques are essential. Pre-existing conventional detection methods, such as atomic absorption spectroscopy (AAS) and inductively coupled plasma-mass spectrometry (ICP-MS), involve expensive instrumentation, skilled operators, and complex sample preparation. Electrochemical sensing, which is simple, portable, and eco-friendly, is foreseen as a potential alternative to the above conventional methods. Carbon-based nanomaterials play a crucial role in electrochemical sensors due to their high conductivity, stability, and the presence of surface functional groups. Biochar (BC), a carbon-rich product, has emerged as a promising electrode material for electrochemical sensing due to its high surface area, sustainability, tunable porosity, surface rich in functional groups, eco-friendliness, and negligible environmental footprint. Nevertheless, broad-spectrum studies on the use of biochar in electrochemical sensors remain narrow. This review focuses on the recent advancements in the development of biochar-based electrochemical sensors for the detection of toxic heavy metals such as Pb2+, Cd2+, and Hg2+ and the simultaneous detection of multiple ions, with special emphasis on BC synthesis routes, surface modification methodologies, electrode fabrication techniques, and electroanalytical performance. Finally, current challenges and future perspectives for integrating BC into next-generation sensor platforms are outlined.
Keywords: biochar; electrochemical sensors; trace heavy metal ions; green electrode biochar; electrochemical sensors; trace heavy metal ions; green electrode

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MDPI and ACS Style

Saikrithika, S.; Kim, Y.-J. Biochar-Derived Electrochemical Sensors: A Green Route for Trace Heavy Metal Detection. Chemosensors 2025, 13, 278. https://doi.org/10.3390/chemosensors13080278

AMA Style

Saikrithika S, Kim Y-J. Biochar-Derived Electrochemical Sensors: A Green Route for Trace Heavy Metal Detection. Chemosensors. 2025; 13(8):278. https://doi.org/10.3390/chemosensors13080278

Chicago/Turabian Style

Saikrithika, Sairaman, and Young-Joon Kim. 2025. "Biochar-Derived Electrochemical Sensors: A Green Route for Trace Heavy Metal Detection" Chemosensors 13, no. 8: 278. https://doi.org/10.3390/chemosensors13080278

APA Style

Saikrithika, S., & Kim, Y.-J. (2025). Biochar-Derived Electrochemical Sensors: A Green Route for Trace Heavy Metal Detection. Chemosensors, 13(8), 278. https://doi.org/10.3390/chemosensors13080278

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