Electrocatalytical Nitrite Oxidation via Manganese and Copper Oxides on Carbon Screen-Printed Electrode

Nitrite (NO<sub>2</sub><sup>−</sup>) has long been recognized as a contaminant of concern due to its detrimental effects on both human health and the environment. As a result, there is a continuing need to develop sensitive, real-time, low-cost, and portable systems for the a...

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Main Authors: Roberta Farina, Silvia Scalese, Alessandra Alberti, Stefania Maria Serena Privitera, Giuseppe Emanuele Capuano, Domenico Corso, Giuseppe Andrea Screpis, Serena Concetta Rita Reina, Guglielmo Guido Condorelli, Maria Anna Coniglio, Sebania Libertino
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Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2025-06-01
Series:Sensors
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Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/1424-8220/25/12/3764
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author Roberta Farina
Silvia Scalese
Alessandra Alberti
Stefania Maria Serena Privitera
Giuseppe Emanuele Capuano
Domenico Corso
Giuseppe Andrea Screpis
Serena Concetta Rita Reina
Guglielmo Guido Condorelli
Maria Anna Coniglio
Sebania Libertino
author_facet Roberta Farina
Silvia Scalese
Alessandra Alberti
Stefania Maria Serena Privitera
Giuseppe Emanuele Capuano
Domenico Corso
Giuseppe Andrea Screpis
Serena Concetta Rita Reina
Guglielmo Guido Condorelli
Maria Anna Coniglio
Sebania Libertino
author_sort Roberta Farina
collection DOAJ
description Nitrite (NO<sub>2</sub><sup>−</sup>) has long been recognized as a contaminant of concern due to its detrimental effects on both human health and the environment. As a result, there is a continuing need to develop sensitive, real-time, low-cost, and portable systems for the accurate detection of trace levels of NO<sub>2</sub><sup>−</sup> in drinking water. We present a novel, low-cost, and easy-to-fabricate amperometric sensor designed for detecting low concentrations of NO<sub>2</sub><sup>−</sup> in drinking water. The fabrication technique involves the electrodeposition of manganese and copper oxides onto a carbon working electrode. CuO and MnO<sub>2</sub> act synergistically as efficient catalysts for the electrooxidation of nitrite to nitrate (NO<sub>3</sub><sup>−</sup>) thanks to their complementary redox properties. The resulting sensor exhibits high catalytic activity toward the electrooxidation of NO<sub>2</sub><sup>−</sup>, with a sensitivity of 10.83 μA/µM, a limit of detection (LOD) of 0.071 µM, and a good linear dynamic concentration range (0.2–60 µM). The sensor’s performance was evaluated against potential interfering analytes (NO<sub>3</sub><sup>−</sup>, Cl<sup>−</sup>, NH<sub>4</sub><sup>+</sup>, and NH<sub>2</sub>Cl), all of which showed negligible interference. Reproducibility (maximum standard deviation 2.91%) and repeatability (usable up to three times) were also evaluated.
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spelling doaj-art-c6fee392b05b4cb6aa2a00923d147c072025-08-20T03:27:32ZengMDPI AGSensors1424-82202025-06-012512376410.3390/s25123764Electrocatalytical Nitrite Oxidation via Manganese and Copper Oxides on Carbon Screen-Printed ElectrodeRoberta Farina0Silvia Scalese1Alessandra Alberti2Stefania Maria Serena Privitera3Giuseppe Emanuele Capuano4Domenico Corso5Giuseppe Andrea Screpis6Serena Concetta Rita Reina7Guglielmo Guido Condorelli8Maria Anna Coniglio9Sebania Libertino10Consiglio Nazionale delle Ricerche—Istituto per la Microelettronica e Microsistemi (CNR-IMM), Strada VIII Z.I., 5, 95121 Catania, ItalyConsiglio Nazionale delle Ricerche—Istituto per la Microelettronica e Microsistemi (CNR-IMM), Strada VIII Z.I., 5, 95121 Catania, ItalyConsiglio Nazionale delle Ricerche—Istituto per la Microelettronica e Microsistemi (CNR-IMM), Strada VIII Z.I., 5, 95121 Catania, ItalyConsiglio Nazionale delle Ricerche—Istituto per la Microelettronica e Microsistemi (CNR-IMM), Strada VIII Z.I., 5, 95121 Catania, ItalyConsiglio Nazionale delle Ricerche—Istituto per la Microelettronica e Microsistemi (CNR-IMM), Strada VIII Z.I., 5, 95121 Catania, ItalyConsiglio Nazionale delle Ricerche—Istituto per la Microelettronica e Microsistemi (CNR-IMM), Strada VIII Z.I., 5, 95121 Catania, ItalyConsiglio Nazionale delle Ricerche—Istituto per la Microelettronica e Microsistemi (CNR-IMM), Strada VIII Z.I., 5, 95121 Catania, ItalyDipartimento di Scienze Mediche, Chirurgiche e Tecnologie Avanzate “G.F. Ingrassia”, Università Degli Studi di Catania, Via S. Sofia 87, 95123 Catania, ItalyDipartimento di Scienze Chimiche, Università Degli Studi di Catania, Viale A. Doria 6, 95125 Catania, ItalyConsiglio Nazionale delle Ricerche—Istituto per la Microelettronica e Microsistemi (CNR-IMM), Strada VIII Z.I., 5, 95121 Catania, ItalyConsiglio Nazionale delle Ricerche—Istituto per la Microelettronica e Microsistemi (CNR-IMM), Strada VIII Z.I., 5, 95121 Catania, ItalyNitrite (NO<sub>2</sub><sup>−</sup>) has long been recognized as a contaminant of concern due to its detrimental effects on both human health and the environment. As a result, there is a continuing need to develop sensitive, real-time, low-cost, and portable systems for the accurate detection of trace levels of NO<sub>2</sub><sup>−</sup> in drinking water. We present a novel, low-cost, and easy-to-fabricate amperometric sensor designed for detecting low concentrations of NO<sub>2</sub><sup>−</sup> in drinking water. The fabrication technique involves the electrodeposition of manganese and copper oxides onto a carbon working electrode. CuO and MnO<sub>2</sub> act synergistically as efficient catalysts for the electrooxidation of nitrite to nitrate (NO<sub>3</sub><sup>−</sup>) thanks to their complementary redox properties. The resulting sensor exhibits high catalytic activity toward the electrooxidation of NO<sub>2</sub><sup>−</sup>, with a sensitivity of 10.83 μA/µM, a limit of detection (LOD) of 0.071 µM, and a good linear dynamic concentration range (0.2–60 µM). The sensor’s performance was evaluated against potential interfering analytes (NO<sub>3</sub><sup>−</sup>, Cl<sup>−</sup>, NH<sub>4</sub><sup>+</sup>, and NH<sub>2</sub>Cl), all of which showed negligible interference. Reproducibility (maximum standard deviation 2.91%) and repeatability (usable up to three times) were also evaluated.https://www.mdpi.com/1424-8220/25/12/3764nitrite sensingmetal oxideselectrocatalysiselectrodepositioncyclic voltammetrynitrite oxidation
spellingShingle Roberta Farina
Silvia Scalese
Alessandra Alberti
Stefania Maria Serena Privitera
Giuseppe Emanuele Capuano
Domenico Corso
Giuseppe Andrea Screpis
Serena Concetta Rita Reina
Guglielmo Guido Condorelli
Maria Anna Coniglio
Sebania Libertino
Electrocatalytical Nitrite Oxidation via Manganese and Copper Oxides on Carbon Screen-Printed Electrode
Sensors
nitrite sensing
metal oxides
electrocatalysis
electrodeposition
cyclic voltammetry
nitrite oxidation
title Electrocatalytical Nitrite Oxidation via Manganese and Copper Oxides on Carbon Screen-Printed Electrode
title_full Electrocatalytical Nitrite Oxidation via Manganese and Copper Oxides on Carbon Screen-Printed Electrode
title_fullStr Electrocatalytical Nitrite Oxidation via Manganese and Copper Oxides on Carbon Screen-Printed Electrode
title_full_unstemmed Electrocatalytical Nitrite Oxidation via Manganese and Copper Oxides on Carbon Screen-Printed Electrode
title_short Electrocatalytical Nitrite Oxidation via Manganese and Copper Oxides on Carbon Screen-Printed Electrode
title_sort electrocatalytical nitrite oxidation via manganese and copper oxides on carbon screen printed electrode
topic nitrite sensing
metal oxides
electrocatalysis
electrodeposition
cyclic voltammetry
nitrite oxidation
url https://www.mdpi.com/1424-8220/25/12/3764
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