Removal of a melamine contaminant with Ag-doped ZnO nanocomposite materials

Abstract

In this approach, Ag-doped ZnO nanosheets (Ag/ZnO NSs) were prepared via a facile wet-chemical method using reducing agents in an alkaline medium at a low temperature. Initially, the Ag/ZnO NSs were totally characterized via UV/vis, FT-IR, FESEM, XEDS, XPS, powder XRD, etc. For potential chemical sensor applications, the Ag/ZnO NSs were deposited onto a flat glassy carbon electrode (GCE) with 5% Nafion conducting binders to fabricate a sensor that has fast, selective response towards melamine. Characteristics including higher sensitivity, lower detection limit, better reliability, good reproducibility, ease of integration, long-term stability, high selectivity, and enhanced electrochemical performance were investigated in detail in this approach. The effect of Ag-doping into ZnO on melamine detection was also investigated on the basis of the fabricated sensors. Finally, the efficiency of the proposed chemi-sensor could be applied and effectively utilized for the detection of melamine with acceptable and reasonable results.