Cu-Doped ZnO Nanoparticle Electrode for Precise and Rapid Sodium Ion Detection in Water Samples

Abstract

Excessive consumption of sodium ions (Na+) can result in high blood pressure, linked to various health issues. To regulate Na+ intake and manage food flavour, it is crucial to determine the Na+ content in food in real time. Researchers have developed an electrochemical sensor that utilizes cyclic voltammetry (CV) to detect Na+ at room temperature to address this concern. The sensor used a Cu-doped ZnO-modified electrode and was found to be highly selective in detecting Na+. The Cu-doped ZnO nanoparticles (Cu-ZnONPs) were synthesized using a solution process and placed on a glassy carbon electrode (GCE). The sensor exhibited excellent sensitivity, selectivity, linear response, stability, and reproducibility in detecting Na+. It had a low detection limit of 0.1 ppm for known water samples and was successfully employed to measure Na+ levels in actual water samples. This electrochemical sensor is a valuable tool for the real-time measurement of Na+ levels in drinking water samples.