Role of Silica, Carbon, and ZnO Nanomaterials in the Fabrication of Electrochemical Sensors for the Detection of Water Contaminants and Food Dye

Abstract

Silica‐based nanomaterials have attracted huge attention for maximizing their safety and efficacy due to their nontoxicity, chemical and thermal stability, size tunability, and versatile functionality. Nanosilica with ZnO or carbon in a composite has excellent usage as an electrochemical sensor. Recent technological progression in nanotechnology and nanoscience has seen a number of applications of zinc oxide (ZnO) nanomaterials ranging from electronics, and sensing to environmental, and biomedical applications because of its various applications, multifunction, high specific surface area, stability, biocompatibility, nontoxicity, electrochemical activities, and so on. Carbon also has various advantageous properties like renewability, low ohmic resistance, and very stable response due to which carbon paste electrodes have attracted attention in the fabrication of electrochemical sensors. Electrochemical sensors are inexpensive, portable, and have excellent ability in detecting water contaminants, pesticides, disinfectants, pathogens, and different molecules. Artificial dyes are usually mixed with vegetable sauces, drinks, and other food items, which can cause cancer in human body. Voltametric methods with electrochemical sensors can be used to detect them in food samples. In this review, the present applications of ZnO and carbon nanomaterial‐based chemical sensors are meticulously studied to detect water contaminants and food dyes where nanosilica plays an important role as a sensor modifier.