Nickel-Enriched Biochar from Marine Microalgae Advances Enzyme-Free Hydrogen Peroxide Sensors
A new biochar material derived from nickel-enriched marine microalgae, Picochlorum eukaryotum, has been developed to enable enzyme-free electrochemical sensing for hydrogen peroxide. The process involves cultivating the algae in nickel-supplemented media and pyrolyzing the biomass to create a porous carbon structure embedded with nickel nanoparticles.
This sensor achieves a detection limit of 0.39 micromolar and a response time of two seconds. It outperforms traditional enzyme-based sensors by eliminating degradation concerns and maintaining operational reliability across different matrices, including seawater and fruit juice. The research offers a sustainable approach to sensor material synthesis and highlights the versatility of biologically enriched biochar for future applications in various fields.
