Electrochemical detection of hydroquinone as an environmental contaminant using Ga2O3 incorporated ZnO nanomaterial

Abstract

The primary objective of this research endeavor is to develop a highly sensitive and selective electrochemical sensor for the accurate detection of hydroquinone (HQ), a prevalent environmental contaminant. To achieve this, we employed a novel nanocomposite consisting of Ga₂O₃-doped ZnO (Ga₂O₃.ZnO) as the active nanomaterial for fabricating a glassy carbon electrode (GCE). The structure and morphology of the Ga₂O₃.ZnO nanocomposite were rigorously analyzed using a diverse range of techniques to ensure its suitability as the sensing nanomaterial. This innovative sensor exhibits remarkable capabilities, enabling the detection of HQ across a broad concentration range, spanning from 1 to 11070 µM, in a neutral phosphate buffer solution. It boasts an exceptionally high sensitivity of 1.0229 µA µM⁻¹ cm⁻² and an impressive detection limit of 0.063 µM. Thanks to its exceptional sensitivity and specificity, this sensor can precisely quantify HQ levels in real-world samples. Moreover, its outstanding reproducibility, repeatability, and stability establish it as a dependable and resilient choice for HQ determination.