Efficient hydroquinone sensor based on zinc, strontium and nickel based ternary metal oxide (TMO) composites by differential pulse voltammetry

Abstract A ternary metal oxide (TMO; SrO.NiO.ZnO) was synthesized to detect hydroquinone (HQ) from water via electrochemical reactions. The spectroscopic and electrochemical investigations showed that the TMO particles possess entirely different electronic and catalytic properties from its constituents. The TMO particles on a glassy carbon (GC) electrode showed the best reactivity at a pH value of 7.0. At the electrode surface, HQ molecules involved coupled two electron two proton transfer reversible reaction. This electrode displayed an excellent sensitivity (2.3782 μAμM −1 cm −2 ), ultra-low detection limit (LOD: 2.3 ± 0.1 pM; S/N = 3), long term stability, very good repeatability, and reproducibility. In diagnostic exploration, a linear calibration plot was obtained for a large concentration range of HQ (0.40 nM to 0.02 M; r 2  = 0.9965). This method represents an efficient way of sensitive sensor development for the detection of toxic and carcinogenic phenolic compounds.