Electrochemical detection of Chromium(VI) using NiO nanoparticles

We report the detection of toxic heavy metal ion Chromium(VI) through a simpler cyclic voltammetry study. The sol-gel synthesized Nickel Oxide (NiO) nanoparticles were coated onto the fluorine doped tin oxide plate used as a working electrode for the heavy metal detection. The synthesized nanoparticles were characterized using X-ray diffraction, Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy and UV-Vis Spectroscopy. The effect of varying concentration of chromium at different scan rate was studied in a three-electrode system with hydrochloric acid as electrolyte within a potential window from - 0.4 to - 0.8 V. Oxidation and reduction potentials were studied and it reflected a diffusion controlled process. The obtained experimental data were compared with the theoretical calculations using the Randles-Servick equation. Atomic Absorption spectroscopy was applied for the quantitative determination of the metal. The results suggested the efficacy of synthesized NiO nanoparticles for the detection of heavy metal ion via electrochemical techniques.