Borophene Nanosheet-Based Electrochemical Sensing toward Groundwater Arsenic Detection

Arsenic is one of nature's most prevalent environmental toxins and is exceedingly prevalent in the Earth's mantle. Arsenic mostly exists as trivalent arsenite-As(III) and pentavalent arsenate-As(V) cations in natural water and surface soil, whose duration can pose a major risk to human well-being. It is critical, hence an effective sensing technique, for detecting As(III) ions to protect human health and well-being while maintaining a beautiful and healthy biosphere. The benefits of electrochemical sensing include easy instrumentation, high sensitivity, strong selectivity, mobility, and capacity for on-site analysis. Here, we synthesized a few layered large flake-size freestanding sonicated borophene (BS) for very low level As(III) detection in water up to 0.1 mu M. The morphological and physicochemical activities of as-synthesized material were investigated by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), X-ray diffraction (XRD), Raman spectroscopy, scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and transmission electron microscopy (TEM). Using cyclic and differential pulse voltammetry, the electrochemical behavior of the glassy carbon electrode (GCE) modified with borophene was examined. When the concentration is increased from 0.1 to 20 mu M, a substantially linear response is achieved with a limit of detection of 0.1 mu M. Real groundwater samples taken from arsenic-contaminated locations were used to test the sensor. Because of its prominent sensitivity, low cost, strong selectivity, good repeatability, and reusability, the BS-modified GCE's electroanalytical capabilities demonstrate that the device can be employed for practical applications in its as-prepared state.