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Smart and reusable electrochemical sensor based on Ag@SiO2 gel for the detection of sulfur-based compounds in environmental samples

  • Original Paper: Sol-gel and hybrid materials with surface modification for applications
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Abstract

A sol-gel method is used to fabricate a smart reusable electrochemical sensor Ag@SiO2 Gel (silver-silicate) for the detection of sulfur-based compounds sulfide S2− and thiourea TU based on the oxidative cycle of Ag0/Ag+. In this method, adding chemically prepared AgNPs silver nanoparticles and cetylammonium bromide CTAB are mixed with solution containing TEOS tetraethoxysilane, ethanol, H2O and NH3 ammonia for stirring 120 mins. The sensor was characterized by UV − visible absorption, emission, FTIR spectroscopy, scanning electron microscope (SEM) and electrochemical studies. The plasmonic band AgNPs appeared at 430 nm and the frequency of Ag-O in the sensor appeared at 550 cm−1 for the sensor. Electrochemical studies of sensor recorded the oxidation Ox and reduction Red potentials of AgNPs at +500 and −250 mV, respectively, which confirms linkage of AgNPs to silicon framework. At optimized conditions, the linearity of peak current of the Ox potential observed 10.0–20.0 μM for S2− and TU, with correlation coefficient (R2,0.98). The detection limits are calculated 1.88 and 2.14 μM of S2− and TU, respectively. The sensor had good reproducibility (RSD < 2.0%, n = 5). The density functional theory DFT was used to demonstrate the bond strength between AgNPs and S2− or TU. The results of the BDE bond dissociation energy and the bond order of Ag-S, AgNPs were a faster dissolution with S2− than TU. The operation of the gel sensor has been returned with the addition of 50 μM HCl without wasting it. It’s a new trend for electrochemical sensors.

Graphical Abstract

Highlights

  • The Sol-gel method is used to prepare a smart and reusable Ag@SiO2 gel as electrochemical sensor.

  • The plasmonic band AgNPs was recorded for Ag@SiO2 gel.

  • Limit of detection for electrochemical detection of s2− (sulfide) and TU(thiourea) was 1.88 and 2.14, respectively.

  • DFT was used to demonstrate the bond strength between AgNPs and S2− or TU.

  • The operation of the gel sensor has been returned with the addition of 50 μM HCl

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Funding

The authors extend their appreciation to the Deputyship for Research and Innovation, Ministry of Education in Saudi Arabia, for funding this research work (Project INST122).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Chemistry, College of Science, King Faisal, University, Hofuf, 31982, Al-Ahsa, Saudi Arabia

    Ranjith Kumar Karnati & Esam Mohamed Bakir

  2. Faculty of Science, Department of Chemistry, Ain Shams, University, Cairo, 11566, Egypt

    Esam Mohamed Bakir

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  1. Ranjith Kumar Karnati
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Contributions

RKK and EMB performed material preparation, data collection, and analysis. EMB contributed to the study of conception and design. The first draft of the paper was written by EMB, and all the authors commented on the previous versions of the paper. All the authors read and approved the final paper.

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Correspondence to Esam Mohamed Bakir.

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Karnati, R.K., Bakir, E.M. Smart and reusable electrochemical sensor based on Ag@SiO2 gel for the detection of sulfur-based compounds in environmental samples. J Sol-Gel Sci Technol 106, 869–876 (2023). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10971-023-06116-8

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10971-023-06116-8

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