β-Cyclodextrin functionalized rGO films for lead sensing

[Display omitted] •Easy modification of reduced graphene oxide (rGO) with β-Cyclodextrin.•Chemiresistive sensor for lead (Pb(II)) in aqueous medium.•Trapping of heavy metal by β-Cyclodextrin for enhanced sensing in rGO.•Good sensitivity and selectivity in chemiresistive sensing of Lead. Graphene based materials have become the materials of choice for sensing applications due to their large surface area, high electrical conductivity and their ability to interact with various chemical species. Heavy metals bind with proteins and pose a potential risk to human life when exposed to higher concentrations. Thus, precise and quick detection of heavy metals is essential. Here, we report the use of β-cyclodextrin (BCD) functionalized reduced graphene oxide (rGO) as a chemiresistive sensor material, for heavy metals sensing in aqueous medium. Functionalization of rGO led to selectivity towards lead detection. Significant change in resistivity was observed within 15 min when the BCD functionalized rGO film was exposed to Pb(NO3)2 solution of various concentrations. A chemiresistive device was fabricated and characterized. The development of simple and selective chemiresistive sensors is expected to provide a facile solution for heavy metal detection such as lead for point of use sensing devices.