Development of a novel and eco-friendly synthesized Ni-cu/β-CD nanocomposite for identification as (III) in aqueous solutions based on a quartz crystal microbalance nanosensor

Arsenic (As) is a highly hazardous metalloid whose toxic effects pose a severe threat to all living organisms, including humans, animals, and plants. Its acute toxicity has driven the search for advanced techniques capable of detecting it at very low concentrations. Recently, the Quartz Crystal Microbalance (QCM) has emerged as a widely used tool for detecting trace heavy metal ions in solution. This technique offers a simple, cost-effective, portable, and sensitive gravimetric sensing platform, with a detection range spanning from nanograms to grams. In this study, a green, rapid, and low-cost synthesis method using an extract of chamomile ( matricaria chamomilla ) was developed to fabricate nickel–copper bimetallic nanoparticles (Ni Cu BMNPs) and a Ni-Cu/β-CD nanocomposite. The structural, chemical, and morphological properties of the synthesized materials were characterized using various analytical techniques, including X-ray diffraction (XRD), Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR), dynamic light scattering (DLS), zeta potential analysis, scanning electron microscopy (SEM), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), and energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDX). The sensing performance of the Ni Cu BMNPs and Ni-Cu/β-CD nanocomposite was evaluated for the detection of trace concentrations of As(III) ions in aqueous solutions using the QCM technique. The results demonstrated that both nanomaterials successfully detected extremely low levels of As(III) ions, with detection limits reaching approximately 7.5 μM and 4.4 μM, respectively.