Biosynthesised reduced graphene oxide/CuO based nanocomposite using 'Cordia dichotoma' leaf extract for...

Herein, plant-assisted synthesis of copper oxide nanoparticles (CuO NPs)_CD and reduced graphene oxide (CDrGO) was performed individually using the leaf extract of 'Cordia dichotoma' plant and they were associated with electrochemically active conducting clay 'Sodium-Montmorillonite (Na-MT)' leading to the synthesis of a new nanocomposite named '(CuO NPs)_CD@CDrGO-Na-MT'. The collaboration of CDrGO paired (CuO NPs)_CD and Na-MT enhanced the electrochemical reduction of noxious 'Nitrobenzene (NB)' at a lower potential. The prepared ternary nanocomposite was confirmed with characterisation techniques, Transmission electron microscopy (TEM), Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy, X-ray diffraction (XRD) and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS). Electrochemical properties and electrochemical reduction of 'Nitrobenzene' were inspected with cyclic voltammetry and differential pulse voltammetry techniques, respectively. The electro-reduction of NB was recorded in two wide linear ranges of 0.016-360 μM and 360-6980 μM with a detection limit of 15 nM and negligible effect of interferences.