Nickel oxide decorated carbon fiber nanocomposite: A robust electrocatalyst for the detection of vanillin food additive

In this study, we have created a highly effective electrode nanocomposite specifically designed for the electrochemical detection of the food ingredient vanillin (VN). We employ a straightforward ultrasonic method to create a flake-like nickel oxide (NiO) anchored functionalized carbon nanofiber (f-CNF) nanocomposite. This nanocomposite was optimized for electrochemical VN monitoring by being incorporated into a glassy carbon electrode (GCE). The NiO/f-CNF nanocomposite exhibits exceptional analytical performance for VN detection under optimal conditions, with two distinct linear concentration ranges: 0.03–26.4 μM and 26.4–815.85 μM. The sensor has a detection limit of 0.002 μM, making it suitable for real-time monitoring of VN in food samples. The improved performance of the NiO/f-CNF/GCE is due to the synergistic effect of individual NiO and f-CNF physicochemical properties. The NiO/f-CNF nanocomposite exhibits enhanced catalytic activity for the oxidation of VN in neutral electrolytes, surpassing the literature values. Furthermore, the NiO/f-CNF-modified GCE exhibits high selectivity and reproducibility for detecting VN. This novel technique shows great promise for improving food application outcomes in real-time sensing applications.