Eco-Friendly Electrochemical Sensor for Accurate Soil Nitrate Detection using ZnOx/PANI Nanocomposite on Nickel Foam Electrode

This study presents an innovative approach to enhancing nitrate detection in soil, a critical macronutrient for agriculture. We developed a novel electrochemical sensor using a nanocomposite of Zinc Oxide (ZnOx) and Polyaniline (PANI) on a Nickel foam electrode. The nanocomposite was synthesized through cyclic voltammetry and characterized using Field Emission Scanning Electron Microscopy (FESEM), Energy Dispersive Spectroscopy (EDS), and X-ray Diffraction (XRD) to analyze its morphological, elemental, and crystalline properties. The sensor's performance was evaluated using square wave voltammetry, revealing a direct linear relationship between the peak current and nitrate concentration. The sensor demonstrated high sensitivity (4.53 µA/µM) and a low detection limit (0.40 µM), confirming its potential for precise and sensitive nitrate analysis in soil samples.