CeO2·ZnO@biomass-derived carbon nanocomposite-based electrochemical sensor for efficient detection of ascorbic acid

Abstract

Ascorbic acid (AA), a prominent antioxidant commonly found in human blood serum, serves as a biomarker for assessing oxidative stress levels. Therefore, precise detection of AA is crucial for swiftly diagnosing conditions arising from abnormal AA levels. Consequently, the primary aim of this research is to develop a sensitive and selective electrochemical sensor for accurate AA determination. To accomplish this aim, we used a novel nanocomposite comprised of CeO₂-doped ZnO adorned on biomass-derived carbon (CeO₂·ZnO@BC) as the active nanomaterial, effectively fabricating a glassy carbon electrode (GCE). Various analytical techniques were employed to scrutinize the structure and morphology features of the CeO₂·ZnO@BC nanocomposite, ensuring its suitability as the sensing nanomaterial. This innovative sensor is capable of quantifying a wide range of AA concentrations, spanning from 0.5 to 1925 μM in a neutral phosphate buffer solution. It exhibits a remarkable sensitivity of 0.2267 μA μM⁻¹cm⁻² and a practical detection limit of 0.022 μM. Thanks to its exceptional sensitivity and selectivity, this sensor enables highly accurate determination of AA concentrations in real samples. Moreover, its superior reproducibility, repeatability, and stability underscore its reliability and robustness for AA quantification.