Incorporation of Bismuth(III) Oxide Nanoparticles into Carbon Ceramic Composite: Electrode Material with Improved Electroanalytical Performance in 4-Chloro-3-Methylphenol Determination.

In this study, a carbon ceramic electrode (CCE) with improved electroanalytical performance was developed by bulk-modifying it with bismuth(III) oxide nanoparticles (Bi-CCE). Characterization of the Bi-CCE was conducted employing atomic force microscopy, scanning electron microscopy with energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy, cyclic voltammetry (CV), and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy. Comparative analysis was conducted using an unmodified CCE. The findings proved that the incorporation of Bi 2 O 3 nanoparticles into the CCE significantly altered the morphology and topography of the ceramic composite, and it improved the electrochemical properties of CCE. Notably, the Bi-CCE demonstrated a prolonged operational lifespan of at least three months, and there was a high reproducibility of the electrode preparation procedure. The developed Bi-CCE was effectively employed to explore the electrochemical behavior and quantify the priority environmental pollutant 4-chloro-3-methylphenol (PCMC) using CV and square-wave voltammetry (SWV), respectively. Notably, the developed SWV procedure utilizing Bi-CCE exhibited significantly enhanced sensitivity (0.115 µA L mol -1 ), an extended linearity (0.5-58.0 µmol L -1 ), and a lower limit of detection (0.17 µmol L -1 ) in comparison with the unmodified electrode. Furthermore, the Bi-CCE was utilized effectively for the detection of PCMC in a river water sample intentionally spiked with the compound. The selectivity toward PCMC determination was also successfully assessed.