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A comparison on the performance of zinc oxide and hematite nanoparticles for highly selective and sensitive detection of para-nitrophenol

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Abstract

ZnO and hematite (Fe2O3) nanoparticles (NPs) have been used as electrocatalysts or electron mediators for the modification of gold (Au) electrode for the detection of toxic compounds, i.e., para-nitrophenol (PNP). A comparison of the two types of NPs reveals higher efficiency for ZnO NPs. Electrochemical response measured by three different techniques, i.e., normal cyclic voltammetry (CV), differential pulse voltammetry (DPV), and amperometry, has been used to determine the sensitivity and detection limit of the system. The order of sensitivity varies in the order: amperometry > DPV > normal CV response, both for ZnO and α-Fe2O3 NPs. While, the order of detection limit for α-Fe2O3 NPs varies as DPV > normal CV > amperometry and for ZnO NPs, the order is normal CV > DPV > amperometry, suggesting that amperometry is the best among all the techniques for detection applications. Based on the electrochemical response, it is proposed that the electrochemical reaction of PNP proceeds via two-step mechanism. In the first step, irreversible reduction of PNP to para-hydroxy nitrophenol takes place with the gain of four electrons and in the second step, reversible redox reaction occurs by the exchange of two electrons, from hydroxy nitrophenol to nitrosophenol and vice versa.

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Acknowledgments

KS and SKM are thankful to Council of Scientific and industrial research (CSIR), India for their financial assistance and fellowships. KS is thankful to Central Instrumental Laboratory (CIL), Panjab University, Chandigarh, India for TEM and XRD measurements. We also thank DST, Govt. of India for financial support under PURSE Grant Phase-II to Panjab University.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Chemistry and Centre of Advanced Studies in Chemistry, Panjab University, Chandigarh, 160 014, India

    Kulvinder Singh, Appanjeet Kaur, G. R. Chaudhary, Sukhjinder Singh & S. K. Mehta

  2. Promising Centre for Sensors and Electronic Devices (PCSED), Centre for Advanced Materials and Nano-Research (CAMNR), Najran University, P.O. Box 1988, Najran, 11001, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia

    Ahmad Umar

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  1. Kulvinder Singh
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  4. G. R. Chaudhary
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Correspondence to S. K. Mehta.

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Singh, K., Kaur, A., Umar, A. et al. A comparison on the performance of zinc oxide and hematite nanoparticles for highly selective and sensitive detection of para-nitrophenol. J Appl Electrochem 45, 253–261 (2015). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10800-014-0762-3

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10800-014-0762-3

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