Green preparation of amorphous molybdenum sulfide nanocomposite with biochar microsphere and its voltametric sensing platform for smart analysis of baicalin

Abstract Green and sustainable development provides a new idea for solving environmental pollution issues of rural biomass wastes. Amorphous molybdenum sulfide (a-MoSx) nanocomposite based on biochar microsphere (BM) as voltametric sensing platform for smart analysis of baicalin in real sample was facilely prepared. Pomelo peel was employed as the carbon source for improving electronic conductivity and environmental stability and electrocatalytic capacity of a-MoSx. A mixture consisted of the precursor of both a-MoSx and BM were treated by a co-hydrothermal method. The a-MoSx nanocomposite with porous BM was formed by centrifuging, washing, drying, pulverizing, and calcining. The structure and properties of the as-obtained nanocomposite were characterized, and the electrochemical behaviors of baicalin, parametric conditions and performance of the as-prepared sensor were investigated. Peak currents recorded by differential pulse voltammetry is proportional to baicalin concentrations in wide linear ranges from 10 nM to 5 μM with a low limit of detection of 2 nM. Machine learning algorithms like least squares support vector machine and artificial neural network was built to realize smart analysis and digital output for baicalin. Good cyclic stability, excellent voltammetric response, and satisfactory practicability will provide a promising electrochemical sensing platform for facile preparation of two-dimension nanomaterials functionalized with biochar derived from agroforestry biomass.