Development of functional MWCNT@Hg/YO nanocomposites for efficient detection of 4-nitrophenol by linear sweep voltammetry

Basically, 4-Nitrophenol (4-NP) is an extremely toxic organic compound used ubiquitously by the environmental and human communities with extensive harm potential, hence, an urgent need of control. To tackle this problem, a unique electrochemical sensor was fabricated using mercury doped yttrium oxide intercalated with functional MWCNT@Hg/YO nanocomposites (NCs) to trace the sensitive and detection of 4-NP. Chemical solid-state synthesis was used to prepare MWCNT@Hg/YO NCs, in which the components are efficiently integrated. Confirmation of the structural and compositional properties of nanocomposite were done using a comprehensive set of characterization techniques including UV–vis spectroscopy, FT-IR, XRD, FE-SEM, XPS and XEDS. The MWCNT@Hg/YO NCs were then deposited onto a glassy carbon electrode (GCE) by coating with 5% Nafion as a binder for good adhesion and improving the electrochemical characteristics of the sensor. The MWCNT@Hg/YO NCs/GCE sensor thus obtained exhibited excellent strong selectivity and high sensitivity towards 4-NP. Sensor showed range of concentration 0.01 to 23.0 μM and sensitivity (6.233 μA μM⁻¹ cm⁻²), which indicated this material can capture and detect the target compound well. In addition, this sensor demonstrated an extremely low detection limit (0.196 μM), which means this sensor was able to detect trace levels of 4-NP. The fabrication of this sensor was easy, is an environmentally friendly chemical sensor based on MWCNT@Hg/YO NCs/Nafion/GCE. It has great potential and is therefore relevant to promote an eco-friendly safer environment by providing a means to detect and mitigate the risk from the toxic compounds including 4-NP on a broad scale.