Construction of zinc selenide microspheres decorated with octadecylamine-functionalized reduced graphene oxide as an effective catalyst for the dual-mode detection of chloroquine phosphate

Zinc selenide microspheres were constructed using a simple hydrothermal technique at 180 degrees C. It was ultrasonically treated with reduced graphene oxide modified with octadecylamine alkyl amine to form a hybrid nanocomposite. The optical, structural, and functional analysis by ultraviolet (UV) absorbance, X-ray diffraction, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, Raman spectroscopy, and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy revealed the crystal nature of the microspheres and the successful formation of the nanocomposite. Field emission scanning electron microscopy and transmission electron microscopy were done to study the morphological properties of the material. It was further used to fabricate a dual-modality sensor using both electrochemical and absorbance techniques for the detection of antimalarial drug chloroquine phosphate (CQP), which was used for the treatment of COVID-19 (SARS-CoV-2) virus. For electrochemical detection, the sensor showed a very low detection limit of 1.43 nM at a linear working range of 0.199-250.06 mM and a high sensitivity of 43.912 mA/mM/cm2. For UV-based detection, the sensor showed a very low detection limit of 6.88 nM at a linear working range of 0.045-7.324 mM. The sensor showed excellent analyte recovery rate for real-time analysis in biological as well as envi-ronmental samples. The results suggested that the sensor is effective for the detection of CQP with feasibility for future commercialization. (c) 2022 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved. Superscript/Subscript Available

Automated summary

Zinc selenide microspheres were synthesized via a hydrothermal technique and combined with reduced graphene oxide to form a hybrid nanocomposite material. The optical, structural, and functional properties of the material were analyzed using various techniques, and the morphological characteristics were studied using electron microscopy. The nanocomposite material was used to fabricate a dual-modality sensor capable of electrochemical and absorbance detection, which demonstrated excellent performance in detecting the antimalarial drug chloroquine phosphate. The sensor showed high sensitivity, low detection limits, and good analyte recovery rates in biological and environmental samples.