Electrocatalytic effect of ZnO nanoparticles on reduction of nitroaromatic compounds

Abstract

Nitroaromatic compounds have garnered a lot of attention due to their wide applications in military and industrial fields. Electrochemical techniques can be applied for sensing these compounds due to their electrochemical activity. Electrocatalytic reduction of nitroaromatic explosives was shown previously on silver nanoparticles and graphene based surfaces. Here, we demonstrate electrocatalytic reduction of explosives on zinc oxide nanoparticles. Nitroaromatic explosives were tested using glassy carbon electrodes modified with zinc or zinc oxide nanoparticles to study the catalytic effects on the electrochemical reduction of the nitroaromatic compounds with the aim of improving the sensitivity of their detection. A zinc oxide nanoparticle modified electrode has shown favourable improvement in peak height and hence greater sensitivity compared to bare glassy carbon electrodes and zinc nanoparticle modified electrodes.

Nitroaromatic explosives detection using electrochemically exfoliated graphene

“…In addition, the more volatile 6 7 and soluble 8 9 2,4-dinitrotoluene (DNT) serves as an intermediate in the commercial manufacturing of TNT, thus it is often detected as an impurity 6 indicating the presence of TNT in contamination sites. Unexploded ordnance and munitions may seep into groundwater 10 11 , which then enter and pollute the sea. These toxic contaminants eventually manifest as adverse health impacts in humans, such as discolouration of hair, skin and nails 12 13 , aplastic anaemia 14 15 and liver function disturbances 15 , due to effects of bioamplification and bioaccumulation.…”

“…Conventional analytical methods for the qualitative and quantitative analysis of DNT and TNT include gas chromatography 2 16 , high performance liquid chromatography 2 16 17 , Raman spectroscopy 2 7 18 , infrared absorption spectroscopy 2 19 , mass spectrometry 2 20 , immunoassay techniques 21 22 and electrochemical techniques 17 23 24 . Coupled with advantages of high sensitivity 23 24 , large linear range 23 , low-cost instrumentation 10 23 , portability 11 and short response time 10 11 , electrochemical methods offer the possibility of on-site, real-time analysis in comparison to other analytical techniques, which is crucial for the development of highly affordable and reliable devices for the in situ detection and measurement of NAC explosives. In a research paper by Dong et al .…”

Spectroscopic and Electrochemical Characterization of Iron(II) and 2,4-Dinitrotoluene

“…Figures 5, 6, and 7 show two reductions observed with the unmodified electrode at −0.55 and −0.9 volt that were assigned to the reductions of the 4- and 2-nitro groups, respectively (Toh, Ambrosi, and Pumera 2013). In contrast, there was no reduction peak at −0.55 volt with the modified electrode.…”

Shape-controllable ZnO nanostructures based on synchronously electrochemically reduced graphene oxide and their morphology-dependent electrochemical performance

“…S3C, D) presented the highest peak value than other conditions. Furthermore, the CV tendencies [47,58] of TNT in Fig. S3E and Fig.…”