Screen-Printed Electrode Surface Modification with NiCo₂O₄/RGO Nanocomposite for Hydroxylamine Detection

Area of Science:

• Electrochemistry
• Materials Science
• Environmental Science

Background:

• Hydroxylamine is a key chemical intermediate with applications in various industries.
• Sensitive and selective detection of hydroxylamine is crucial for environmental monitoring and industrial process control.
• Existing detection methods often face limitations in sensitivity, selectivity, or operational simplicity.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop a novel electrochemical sensor for sensitive and selective detection of hydroxylamine.
• To investigate the electrocatalytic properties of a NiCo2O4/RGO nanocomposite for hydroxylamine oxidation.
• To evaluate the performance of the fabricated sensor for hydroxylamine determination in real water samples.

Main Methods:

• Fabrication of a screen-printed electrode (SPE) modified with NiCo2O4 nanoparticles and reduced graphene oxide (RGO).
• Electrochemical characterization of the NiCo2O4/RGO/SPE using cyclic voltammetry and differential pulse voltammetry.
• Optimization of sensor parameters including pH, potential, and concentration.
• Validation of the sensor's performance using standard hydroxylamine solutions and spiked water samples.

Main Results:

• The NiCo2O4/RGO/SPE exhibited significant electrocatalytic activity towards hydroxylamine oxidation.
• The sensor demonstrated a high sensitivity with a low limit of detection (LOD) of 2.0 nM.
• A broad linear dynamic range (0.007-385.0 µM) was achieved, indicating excellent quantitative capability.
• The modified electrode showed good stability and selectivity in the presence of common interfering species.
• Successful application of the sensor for detecting hydroxylamine in real water samples.

Conclusions:

• The developed NiCo2O4/RGO/SPE offers a highly sensitive and reliable platform for electrochemical detection of hydroxylamine.
• The synergistic effect between NiCo2O4 nanoparticles and RGO enhances the electrocatalytic performance and signal amplification.
• This novel sensor holds significant potential for practical applications in environmental monitoring and chemical analysis.