title: Detection of Pb2+ using a hydrogel swelling microcantilever sensor.
abstract: Hydrogels containing benzo-18-crown-6 were used to modify microcantilevers for measurements of the concentration of Pb2+ in aqueous solutions. These microcantilevers undergo bending deflection upon exposure to solutions containing various Pb2+ concentrations as the result of a swelling of the hydrogels. It was found that a concentration of 10(-6) M Pb2+ can be detected using this technology. Other cations, such as Na+, have no effect on the deflection of this cantilever. The cation K+, which also complexes with benzo-18-crown-6, could interfere with Pb2+ detection, but only at high concentrations (> 10(-4) M).
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemistry and Institute for Micromanufacturing, Louisiana Tech University, Ruston, Louisiana 71272, USA.
authors.forename: Ke
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.forename: Hai-Feng
authors.initials: HF
authors.lastname: Ji