Ultrasensitive Electrochemical Detection and Plasmon-Enhanced Photocatalytic Degradation of Rhodamine B Based on Dual-Functional, 3D, Hierarchical Ag/ZnO Nanoflowers

Abstract

The sensitive detection and degradation of synthetic dyes are pivotal to maintain safety owing to the adverse side effects they impart on living beings. In this work, we developed a sensitive electrochemical sensor for the nanomolar-level detection of rhodamine B (RhB) using a dual-functional, silver-decorated zinc oxide (Ag/ZnO) composite-modified, screen-printed carbon electrode. The plasmon-enhanced photocatalytic degradation of organic pollutant RhB was also performed using this nanocomposite prepared by embedding different weight percentages (1, 3, and 5 wt%) of Ag nanoparticles on the surface of a three-dimensional (3D), hierarchical ZnO nanostructure based on the photoreduction approach. The structure and morphology of an Ag/ZnO nanocomposite were characterized by scanning electron microscopy (SEM), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), elemental mapping, ultraviolet-visible (UV-vis) spectroscopy, and X-ray diffraction (XRD). The electrochemical sensor exhibited a very high sensitivity of 151.44 µAµM−1cm−2 and low detection limit of 0.8 nM towards RhB detection. The selectivity, stability, repeatability, reproducibility, and practical feasibility were also analyzed to prove their reliability. Furthermore, the photocatalysis results revealed that 3 wt% of the Ag/ZnO hybrid nanostructure acquired immense photostability, reusability, and 90.5% degradation efficiency under visible light. Additionally, the pseudo-first-order rate constant of Ag-3/ZnO is 2.186 min−1 suggested promising activity in visible light photocatalysis.

Unveiling the effect of crystallinity and particle size of biogenic Ag/ZnO nanocomposites on the electrochemical sensing performance of carbaryl detection in agricultural products

“…The sensitive detection and degradation of dye are crucial to ensuring the safety of living being. 31 A novel biosensor was also successfully developed to detect xanthine in both meat and fish samples corresponding to limit detection of 0.07 μM. The electrode was covered with nano Ag–ZnO, which played an important role in the performance of the biosensor by significantly increasing the porous structure of the conducting polymer (pyrrole) surface.…”

Recent trends in nanostructured carbon-based electrochemical sensors for the detection and remediation of persistent toxic substances in real-time analysis

“…Utilizing a dual-functional, Ag/ZnO composite-modified, SPCE, Sebastian et al [144] created a precise electrochemical sensor for the nanomolar-level monitoring of rhodamine B (RhB). This nanocomposite was created by incorporating distinct wt.% (1, 3, and 5 wt.%) of Ag NPs upon the substrate of 3D hierarchical ZnO nanostructure utilizing the photoreduction method.…”

Hippophae rhamnoides L. (sea buckthorn) mediated green synthesis of copper nanoparticles and their application in anticancer activity

“…Nanoparticles (NPs) are substances whose size falls between 1 and 100 nm ( Inwati et al, 2021 ; Choudhary et al, 2023 ). The field of nanomedicine involves science and technology that utilizes molecular tools and information about the human body to produce novel medications (new treatments), ailments, and tissue repair; to develop quick monitoring tests (high nanoparticles, imaging technology), throughput arrays (labels, nano biosensors, or extremely sensitive detectors) ( Sebastian et al, 2022 ; Balram et al, 2023 ); to develop biopharmaceuticals (targeted medications), delivery methods, and gene delivery; and to enhance (implantable) cell function ( Jagaran and Singh, 2021 ; Lin et al, 2021 ; Kim and Lee, 2022 ; Rhaman et al, 2022 ). Even though NPs could be synthesized by all three routes, i.e., chemical (co-precipitation, sol-gel, solvothermal, chemical vapor deposition, sonochemical), physical (ball-milling, physical vapor deposition), and biological (plant, bacteria, fungi, algae) ( Yadav et al, 2020 ).…”