Self-assembled monolayers of 2-mercaptobenzimidazole on gold: stripping voltammetric determination of Hg(II)

Monomolecular level modification of electrode surfaces through a self-assembly approach is, of late, gaining importance in view of its many functional applications in areas such as molecular electronics, molecular recognition, electron transfer studies and electroanalysis. Self-assembled monolayer (SAM) modification of a gold electrode with 2-mercaptobenzimidazole (MBI) has been achieved. On this modified electrode, anodic stripping voltammetric determination of mercury at ppm/sub-ppm level concentrations has been successfully attempted. Pre-concentration, prior to stripping, has been effected through a non-electrolytic process involving chemical interactions between MBI and Hg(II). The results are described and discussed with a plausible scheme.