Green synthesis of ZnO NShs using poppy flower extract and spray pyrolysis for electrochemical detection applications

Using poppy flower extract and spray pyrolysis, this study successfully demonstrates the environmentally friendly synthesis of ZnO nanosheets (ZnO NShs) for electrochemical detection applications. It investigates and characterizes zinc oxide (ZnO) samples synthesized from poppy flower extract, which are subsequently coated onto copper substrates (ZnO/Cu) via pneumatic spraying using the spray pyrolysis (SP) technique. The samples were analyzed both before and after annealing at 400 °C. The synthesized films were thoroughly characterized using various techniques, including X-ray diffraction (XRD), ultraviolet-visible (UV-Vis) spectroscopy, and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). These analyses confirmed the formation of ZnO NShs with well-defined structural and morphological properties. Additionally, the electrochemical properties of the ZnO films were evaluated in the presence of a Na2SO4 electrolyte using cyclic voltammetry (CV). The green synthesis of ZnO films demonstrates high selectivity for the detection of D-glucose and paracetamol. The simplicity of the biosynthesis process, combined with the cost-effectiveness of production and the superior electrochemical performance in detecting D-glucose and paracetamol, highlights ZnO as a promising material for the development of multifunctional sensors capable of simultaneously detecting these two compounds.