Growth of Ni5P4/Ni2P/C nanosheet arrays on ITO as dual-function electrochemical sensor for efficient Cu2+ and paracetamol detection

Heavy metal ion pollution and pharmaceutical contamination pose severe threats to public health and the environment, necessitating the development of a highly efficient dual-functional electrochemical sensing material capable of detecting both heavy metal ions and pharmaceutical pollutants. In this investigation, we employed a simple hydrothermal method to grow a Ni5P4/Ni2P/C network-like nanosheet arrays on indium tin oxide (ITO) glass, successfully fabricating a dual-functional non-enzyme electrochemical sensor capable of detecting Cu2+ and Paracetamol (PA). The interconnected and uniform network structure of Ni5P4/Ni2P/C nanosheets vertically grows on the ITO substrate, forming a well-ordered nanosheet arrays. In a 0.1 M HAC-KAC (pH = 5.6) buffer solution, Ni5P4/Ni2P/C/ITO exhibits an ultra-wide linear range (31.25 pM–218.75 μM) and an ultra-low detection limit (10 pM) for Cu2+, along with excellent anti-interference ability, repeatability, and stability. In a buffer solution of 0.1 M PBS (pH = 7.4), Ni5P4/Ni2P/C/ITO displays a broad linear range (0.1–220 μM) and a low detection limit (30 nM) for PA, as well as good anti-interference ability, reproducibility, and stability. These remarkable sensing capabilities are primarily attributed to the small charge transfer resistance, large electrochemical active area, and abundant active sites of the electrode material.