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Electrodeposition of cobalt oxide nanoparticles on carbon nanotubes, and their electrocatalytic properties for nitrite electrooxidation

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Abstract

We describe a modified glassy carbon electrode (GCE) for the sensitive determination of nitrite in waste water samples. The GCE was modified by electrodeposition of cobalt oxide nanoparticles on multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) deposited on a conventional GCE. Scanning electron microscopy and electrochemical techniques were used for the characterization of the composite material which is very uniform and forms a kind of nanoporous structure. Electrochemical experiments showed that the modified electrode exhibited excellent electrocatalytic properties for nitrite. Amperometry revealed a good linear relationship between peak current and nitrate concentration in the 0.5 to 250 μM range with a detection limit of 0.3 μM (S/N = 3). The method has been applied to the amperometric detection of nitrite. The modified electrode displays good storage stability, reproducibility, and selectivity for a promising practical application.

The dense and entangled CoOx/MWCNTs nanocomposite showed a three-dimensional nanoporous structure. The three-dimensional nanoporous structure provided ample space to allow fast mass transport of ions through the electrolyte/electrode interface as well as a conductive network for enhancing electronic conductivity which was favorable to the catalytic application of CoOx.

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Acknowledgements

The authors appreciate the financial support from the National Natural Science Foundation of China (No.20875076), the Science Foundation of Northwest University (No. NF0902) and the NWU Doctorate Dissertation of Excellence Funds (No. 08YYB06).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Institute of Analytical Science, Shaanxi Provincial Key Labortary of Electroanalytical Chemistry, Northwest University, Xi’an, Shaanxi, 710069, China

    Zuchao Meng, Jianbin Zheng, Qinglin Sheng & Hongfang Zhang

  2. College of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Xi’an shiyou University, Xi’an, Shaanxi, 710065, China

    Zuchao Meng

  3. Department of Chemistry, Xianyang Normal University, Xianyang, Shaanxi, 712000, China

    Bin Liu

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  1. Zuchao Meng
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  2. Bin Liu
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Correspondence to Jianbin Zheng.

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Meng, Z., Liu, B., Zheng, J. et al. Electrodeposition of cobalt oxide nanoparticles on carbon nanotubes, and their electrocatalytic properties for nitrite electrooxidation. Microchim Acta 175, 251–257 (2011). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00604-011-0688-y

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00604-011-0688-y

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