Enhanced ethylenediamine detection using WO3-BiVO4 nanoflakes heterostructure with exceptional adsorption capabilities: Experimental and theoretical studies.

Abstract

The present work describes the synthesis of WO3-BiVO4- nanoflakes heterostructure (NFHs) by a single step hydrothermal method. The analysis of crystalline phases and structural behavior deduced the formation of good crystal quality WO3-BiVO4 NFHs. Under microscopic observation, the as-prepared WO3-BiVO4 displayed uniform and conspicuous nanoflakes like structures. The extensive density functional theory (DFT) was studied to examine the electronic and band structures of as-prepared WO3-BiVO4 NFHs in terms of formation energy, charge density, density of state (DOS) and band structures. The synthesized WO3-BiVO4 NFHs was used as sensing electrode towards the detection of ethylenediamine (EDA) chemical that displayed a good sensitivity of ~318.52 mA.mM-1cm-2, excellent dynamic range of 1 μM - 1 mM with detection limit (LOD) of ~94.51 nM and retention coefficient of ~0.9929. WO3-BiVO4 NFHs electrode possessed the good reproducibility, stability, and repeatability towards EDA chemical. To the best of our knowledge, for the first time, the fabricated chemical sensor fabricated with WO3-BiVO4 NFHs electrode could be promising electrode materials to identify dangerous chemicals at very low concentration in environment. Importantly, the fabricated chemical sensor can be effective for environmental monitoring. .