Synthesis of NiO–CeO2 nanocomposite for electrochemical sensing of perilous 4-nitrophenol

• Published in: Journal of materials science. Materials in electronics 2019-10, Vol.30 (19), p.17643-17653
• Main Authors: Ahmad, Naushad, Alam, Manawwer, Wahab, Rizwan, Ahmad, Javed, Ubaidullah, Mohd, Ansari, Anees A., Alotaibi, Nawaf M.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Cerium oxides; Characterization and Evaluation of Materials; Chemistry and Materials Science; Diffuse reflectance spectroscopy; Electrodes; Fluorite; Fourier transforms; Gravimetric analysis; Infrared analysis; Materials Science; Nanocomposites; Nickel oxides; Nitrophenol; Optical and Electronic Materials
• ISSN: 0957-4522; 1573-482X
• DOI: 10.1007/s10854-019-02113-2

Well-crystalline NiO–CeO 2 nanocomposites have been fabricated by ignition method and investigated by X-ray diffraction, Fourier Transform Infrared, UV–Vis diffuse reflectance spectroscopy, Thermal gravimetric analysis, BET surface area, and transmission electron microscopy. The detailed characterizations disclosed that the pre-calcine (700 °C) nanocomposite (NCC) has two pure phases: cubic fluorite phase (CeO 2 ) and cubic face-centered phase (NiO). Finally, the pre-calcine NCC nanocomposite was applied as electron intermediators for the electrochemical sensing of 4-nitrophenol (4-NP). Compared with as-grown modified electrode (NCG/GCE), pre-calcine electrode (NCC/GCE) exhibited more excellent conductivity and better electrocatalytic mediator for 4-NP. It was found that the NCC/GCE sensor displayed diffusion-controlled kinetics and excellent sensitivity (3.68 AμM −1  cm −2 ). The reduction current is directly proportional to the 4-NP concentration, ranging from 1 to 20 μM with lower detection limit of 2.48 μM.