Porous MgNiO(2) Chrysanthemum Flower Nanostructure Electrode for Toxic Hg(2+) Ion Monitoring in Aquatic Media

A simple hydrothermal synthesis approach was used to synthesize porous MgNiO(2) Chrysanthemum Flowers (CFs) nanostructures and applied as a sensing electrode for quick detection of hazardous mercury (Hg(2+) ions). The morphological, structural, and electrochemical properties of MgNiO(2) CFs were investigated. The morphological characteristic of MgNiO(2) CFs, with a specific surface area of 45.618 m(2)/g, demonstrated strong electrochemical characteristics, including cations in different oxidation states of Ni(3+)/Ni(2+). Using a three-electrode system for electrochemical detection, the MgNiO(2) CFs based electrode revealed a good correlation coefficient (R(2)) of ~0.9721, a limit of detection (LOD) of ~11.7 μM, a quick response time (10 s), and a sensitivity of 8.22 μA∙μM(−1)∙cm(−2) for Hg(2+) ions over a broad linear range of 10–100 μM. Moreover, the selectivity for Hg(2+) ions in tap water and drinking water was determined, and a promising stability of 25 days by MgNiO(2) CFs electrode was exhibited. The obtained results indicate that the developed MgNiO(2) CFs are a promising electrode for detecting hazardous Hg(2+) ions in water and have the potential to be commercialized in the future.