Sm2O3-doped ZnO beech fern hierarchical structures for nitroaniline chemical sensor

Sm2O3-doped ZnO hierarchical composites were prepared via a facile, simple hydrothermal method using Zn(CH3COO)2.2H2O and Sm(NO3)30.6H2O as precursors. Growth temperature, time, and pH for the reaction were 7 h, 155 °C and 9.5, respectively. Needle-shaped and compound leaf-shaped structures with ovate or triangular-ovate outlines similar to those of Beech Fern (Phegopteris hexagonoptera) for hierarchical composites were formed. Further, the synthesized Sm2O3-doped ZnO hierarchical composites were used as efficient electron mediators for the preparation of highly sensitive, fast and reliable nitroaniline electrochemical sensors. A sensitivity of 1.71 μA μM−1 cm−2 with a very low experimental detection limit of 15.6 μM was reported for Sm2O3-doped ZnO hierarchical composites modified Ag electrode. Thus, as synthesized Sm2O3-doped ZnO hierarchical composites are potential and efficient electron mediators for the fabrication of sensitive, reliable and reproducible chemical sensors.