Electrochemically induced chemical sensor properties in graphite screen-printed electrodes: The case of a chemical sensor for uranium

► Electrochemical treatment endows analytical characteristics to SPEs. ► A sensitive chemical sensor for uranium is described. ► Performance is due to a synergy between electrochemical treatment and ink's solvents. ► The amount of the solvent controls the achievable sensitivity. We report for the first time on the possibility to develop chemical sensors based on electrochemically treated, non-modified, graphite screen-printed electrodes (SPEs). The applied galvanostatic treatment (5 μA for 6 min in 0.1 M H 2SO 4) is demonstrated to be effective for the development of chemical sensors for the determination of uranium in aqueous solutions. A detailed study of the effect of various parameters related to the fabrication of SPEs on the performance of the resulting sensors along with some diagnostic experiments on conventional graphite electrodes showed that the inducible analytical characteristics are due to a synergy between electrochemical treatment and ink's solvents. Indeed, the amount of the latter onto the printed working layer controls the achievable sensitivity. The preconcentration of the analyte was performed in an electroless mode in an aqueous solutions of U(VI), pH 4.6, and then, the accumulated species was reduced by means of a differential pulse voltammetry scan in 0.1 M H 3BO 3, pH 3. Under selected experimental conditions, a linear calibration curve over the range 5 × 10 −9 to 10 −7 M U(VI) was constructed. The 3 σ limit of detection at a preconcentration time of 30 min, and the relative standard deviation of the method were 4.5 × 10 −9 M U(VI) and >12% ( n = 5, 5 × 10 −8 M U(VI)), respectively. The effect of potential interferences was also examined.