Development of MWCNT decorated with green synthesized AgNps-based electrochemical sensor for highly sensitive detection of BPA

Herein, a new and simple electrochemical sensor platform comprising functionalized multi-walled carbon nanotube (f-MWCNT) decorated with green synthesized silver nanoparticles (AgNps)-based composite (AgNps/f-MWCNT) has been developed. The in situ green synthesis of AgNps was done using plant extract of Cinnamomum tamala. The sensor platform of AgNps/f-MWCNT was prepared on Indium tin oxide (ITO) coated glass substrate (AgNps/f-MWCNT/ITO) for highly sensitive and selective detection of bisphenol A (BPA). The morphological and structural changes of AgNps/f-MWCNT composite have been characterized through XRD, UV–Visible, Raman, FTIR and electron microscopy techniques. This fabricated sensor shows a wide linear range of 3.9 fM–102.4 nM, low limit of detection of 0.38 nM, and high sensitivity of 17.83 μA (log nM) −1 cm −2 [R 2 = 0.978], which are found to be more superior as compared to previously reported sensors for BPA detection. The practical application of this sensor has also been successfully carried out in real samples such as tap water, packaged juice, and processed milk with their relative standard deviation and recoveries obtained in the range of 1.32-8.13 and 94–110%, respectively. Graphic abstract