Comparative study of NiO-ZnO/PANI-CNTs and NiO-ZnO/PANI-graphene nanocomposites for fabrication of aqueous methanol sensors

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Authors

  • Pham Thi Nam \(^1\) Institute of Materials Science, Vietnam Academy of Science and Technology, 18 Hoang Quoc Viet, Nghia Do Ward, Ha Noi, Viet Nam https://orcid.org/0000-0002-7242-6006
  • Nguyen Thi Thom \(^1\) Institute of Materials Science, Vietnam Academy of Science and Technology, 18 Hoang Quoc Viet, Nghia Do Ward, Ha Noi, Viet Nam
  • Vo Thi Kieu Anh \(^1\) Institute of Materials Science, Vietnam Academy of Science and Technology, 18 Hoang Quoc Viet, Nghia Do Ward, Ha Noi, Viet Nam https://orcid.org/0000-0003-1273-635X
  • Nguyen Thi Thu Trang \(^1\) Institute of Materials Science, Vietnam Academy of Science and Technology, 18 Hoang Quoc Viet, Nghia Do Ward, Ha Noi, Viet Nam
  • Nguyen Thi Kim Ngan \(^2\) University of Science-VNUHCM, 227 Nguyen Van Cu, Cho Quan Ward, Ho Chi Minh City, Viet Nam https://orcid.org/0009-0005-5765-5053
  • Huynh Le Thanh Nguyen \(^2\) University of Science-VNUHCM, 227 Nguyen Van Cu, Cho Quan Ward, Ho Chi Minh City, Viet Nam https://orcid.org/0000-0003-4806-7362
  • Nguyen Thai Hoang \(^2\) University of Science-VNUHCM, 227 Nguyen Van Cu, Cho Quan Ward, Ho Chi Minh City, Viet Nam https://orcid.org/0000-0002-3003-8996
  • Pham Van Viet \(^3\) Ho Chi Minh City University of Technology (HUTECH), 475A Dien Bien Phu Street, Thach My Tay Ward, Ho Chi Minh City, Viet Nam
  • Nguyen Van-Anh \(^4\) School of Chemistry and Life Science, Hanoi University of Science and Technology, 1 Dai Co Viet Road, Bach Mai Ward, Ha Noi, Viet Nam https://orcid.org/0000-0002-2893-0352
  • Le Viet Hai \(^2\) University of Science-VNUHCM, 227 Nguyen Van Cu, Cho Quan Ward, Ho Chi Minh City, Viet Nam
  • Tran Dai Lam \(^1\) Institute of Materials Science, Vietnam Academy of Science and Technology, 18 Hoang Quoc Viet, Nghia Do Ward, Ha Noi, Viet Nam https://orcid.org/0000-0003-1364-8001

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.15625/2525-2518/19390

Keywords:

polyaniline, n-p heterojunction, nickel oxide, zinc oxide, electrochemical methanol sensor

Abstract

In this study, we fabricated and compared two composite interfaces, ZnO-NiO/PANI-CNTs (TNZ) and ZnO-NiO/PANI-Gr (GNZ), for electrochemical detection of methanol in aqueous media. The composite were examined by XPS, SEM, TEM, SAED, and electrochemical techniques, including cyclic voltammetry (CV) and chronoamperometry (CA). Both composites contained NiO/NiOOH-ZnO active species distributed on conductive PANI-carbon networks and were able to catalyze methanol oxidation in alkaline solution. In the presence of 100 mM methanol, TNZ produced a higher voltammetric response than GNZ, indicating more effective charge transfer through the CNT-containing PANI framework. The Ni(II)/Ni(III) redox process appeared at approximately 0.45 and 0.30 V (vs. Ag/AgCl). Chronoamperometric measurements showed a response time of about 5 s and two linear concentration ranges of 0 - 300 and 300 - 600 ppm. For the higher range, the calibration gave R² = 0.932. The response was also clearly observed in RON 92 gasoline samples containing methanol. The results demonstrate that both electrodes are applicable to methanol detection, with TNZ showing the better overall electrochemical response.

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Published

17-08-2026

How to Cite

Nam, P. T., Thom, N. T., Anh, V. T. K., Trang, N. T. T., Ngan, N. T. K., Nguyen, H. L. T., … Lam, T. D. (2026). Comparative study of NiO-ZnO/PANI-CNTs and NiO-ZnO/PANI-graphene nanocomposites for fabrication of aqueous methanol sensors. Vietnam Journal of Science and Technology, 64(4), 673–685. https://doi.org/10.15625/2525-2518/19390

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