Synthesis and characterization of nanostructured nickel phosphate as a robust electrocatalyst for the highly sensitive voltammetric determination of chlorpromazine in biological sample

Abstract

Abstract The exploration of highly active and cost-effective catalysts for the electrochemical sensor is crucial to facilitate the improvement in detection techniques. In this study, we report a facile hydrothermal synthesis of nanostructured nickel phosphate (NiP) for the application towards the electrochemical determination of chlorpromazine (CPZ) in biological samples. The synthesized nanostructured NiP was characterized using powder X-ray diffraction, Fourier transforms infrared spectroscopy, field-emission scanning electron microscopy, energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy and elemental mapping techniques. The characterization results exhibit that the prepared electrocatalyst material showed rice bundle-like nanostructure. Furthermore, electrochemical impedance spectroscopy, cyclic voltammetry and differential pulse voltammetric techniques were performed to analyze the electrochemical properties of the prepared nanocomposite. Remarkably, as-prepared rice bundle like NiP modified electrode delivers an excellent sensing performance for the detection of CPZ. The nanostructured NiP modified electrode showed the excellent linear range (0.008–34 µM; 36–221.4 µM), low-level detection limit (0.002 µM) and high sensitivity (8.526 µA/µM cm2), which is superior to that of all other electrocatalysts to sense CPZ. The most active nanostructured NiP modified electrode exhibited good selectivity towards CPZ, and the detection of CPZ in real sample (human urine) showed satisfactory recoveries. Thus, this facile and super active nanostructured NiP material proven to be a promising electrode material in electrochemical sensors.