Novel fluoride selective voltammetric sensing method by amino phenylboronic acid-zirconium oxide nanoparticles modified gold electrode

Abstract

A novel fluoride selective voltammetric method has been developed by using the 3-amino phenylboronic acid (APBA)-zirconium oxide (ZrO2) nanoparticles modified gold (APBA-ZrO2-NPs/Au) electrode for sensitive detection of F− at trace levels in water and toothpaste. A co-precipitation approach was applied to synthesize ZrO2 nanoparticles (ZrO2-NPs) using Salvadora oleoides leaves extract and characterized by UV–Visible spectroscopy, Fourier transform infrared (FT-IR) spectroscopy, Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM), Atomic Force Microscopy (AFM), and X-Ray Diffraction (XRD) for morphological and structural analysis. The APBA-ZrO2-NPs/Au electrode was fabricated by coated of ZrO2-NPs on the surface of Au electrode by drop costing method followed by electrochemical polymerization of APBA. The reduction response of peak current of potassium ferricyanide was achieved by the interaction of the phenylboronic acid with F−to produce the boronate anions. Thus, the method was optimized in detailed for successive electrochemical detection of F−. Two linear relations were observed in reduction peak current and logarithm of F− concentration in the range of 1.0 × 10–9 – 3.0 × 10–4 M and 3.0 × 10–4 – 1.0 × 10–2M, respectively. The limits of detection (LOD) and limit of quantification (LOQ) were calculated as 3.0 × 10–10 and 1.0 × 10–9 M, respectively. Interference of other competing anions, including chloride, bromide, iodide, acetate, sulphate, carbonate, and nitrate, was also investigated. Furthermore, the developed APBA-ZrO2-NPs/Au was employed to the fast detection, wide range of response, and high selectivity of F− in water and toothpaste samples.