Nanosensors for water quality monitoring

Lack of safe water is a global problem due to water pollution. The development of reliable sensors for the detection of contaminants is a necessity and an urgent need. Contaminants such as organic pollutants, pharmaceuticals, heavy metals, pathogens, and pesticides are toxic and hazardous to the ecosystem. Researchers focus on nanomaterial-enabled “nanosensors” for water quality monitoring as they have an inherent capacity for sensitive, selective, rapid, efficient, and on-site detection. Various nanosensors are discussed based on the signal transduction mechanism (electrochemical, optical, and magnetic), along with multiple nanomaterial platforms employed in the sensing. A few promising examples of novel (biomimetic and hybrid) nanosensing technologies are also reviewed. This chapter highlights potential of nanosensor technologies and recent advances in them for water quality monitoring and analysis.