Sensitive and selective electrochemical detection of 4-nitrophenol using a novel Ni@SrO binary composite

The environmental release of toxic industrial waste necessitates are accurate monitoring of organic pollutants, particularly nitrophenols, which exhibit persistence, bioaccumulation, and ecotoxicity. The current research presents the development of an electrochemical sensor with enhanced sensitivity and selectivity for 4-nitrophenol (4-NP) detection, utilizing a binary composite material consisting of nickel and strontium. The synthesized material underwent extensive characterization using a combination of spectroscopic and microscopic techniques, including SEM, TEM, XRD, FTIR, and UV-Vis, which provides a comprehensive understanding of its chemical composition, crystal structure, and morphological features. Systematic electrochemical investigations were undertaken to evaluate the material’s analytical performance in detecting 4-nitrophenol. The obtained results indicate outstanding electrocatalytic characteristics, including high sensitivity (0.525 µM cm−2), low detection limit (1.3348 µM), and LOQ (4.04 µM), underscoring the material’s viability as a reliable sensor for 4-nitrophenol detection in various applications. The Ni@SrO composite designed in this study exhibited remarkable longevity and stability (30 days, 18 cycles), preserving its high-precision sensing capabilities. The demonstrated efficacy of the bimetallic composite in electrochemical sensing confirms the validity of our design strategy. This approach provides a generalizable framework for the rational integration of catalytic elements, paving the way for reliable monitoring of nitroaromatic pollutants in real-world environments.