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Electrochemical Detection of 2,4,6-Trinitrotoluene on L-Cysteine-Modified Porous Silicon Electrode in Dimethyl Sulfoxide Solution

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Abstract

In this work, the electrochemical process of 2,4,6- trinitrotoluene (TNT) reduction on a new type of electrode based on a L-Cysteine-modified porous silicon (PSi) in organic electrolyte was studied. The functionalized by silanization process with APTES was used to prepare the PSi electrode. Cyclic voltammograms of modified-PSi electrode in DMSO/ TBAFB solution containing TNT exhibited two major reduction peaks in the potential rang (-0.7 V—+ 0.4 V / Ag/AgCl), the third reduction peak at -0.64 V presents a very weak current intensity. The presence of these peaks corresponds to the multistep process of TNT reduction. The electrochemical response of TNT reduction was a quasi-reversible process. The TNT concentration was shown to vary in a linear manner with the current intensity with a detection limit of 0.2 nM. The change in the solution color from colorless to red or deep red was attributed to TNT-amine complexes.

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Acknowledgements

This work was realized in collaboration between the Research Center in Technology of Semiconductors (CRTSE) / Directorate of Scientific Research and Technological Development (Algeria) (DGRSDT)., and the Scientific and Technical Police Sub-Directorate/ DPJ / DGSN.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. École Normale Supérieure ENS, Kouba, Algiers, Algeria

    M. Chohra

  2. Sous-Direction de La Police Scientifique Et Technique/DPJ/DGSN, Chateauneuf, Algiers, Algeria

    M. Chohra

  3. Research Center in Semiconductors Technology for Energetics (CRTSE), Algiers, Algeria, 02 Bd Frantz Fanon, les 7 Merveilles BP: 140, 16038, Algiers, Algeria

    C. Yaddaden, M. Berouaken, K. Ayouz & N. Gabouze

  4. Ecole Nationale Supérieure de Biotechnologie, Taoufik Khaznadar Constantine, Algiers, Algeria

    O. Rached

  5. Universite Des Sciences et de La Technologie Houari Boumediene, BP 32, El Alia, Algeria

    D. Akretche

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Contributions

M. CHOHRA. Conceptualization, Methodology, Visualization, Investigation, Writing—original draft. and C. Yaddaden: Methodolog. Writing. review. editing. Supervision. Validation. and M. Berouaken Resources. Writing. review. editing. Supervision. Validation. and O. Rached. Supervision. and D. Akretche. Visualization. and K. Ayouz. Supervision. and N. Gabouze. Writing. review. editing.

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Chohra, M., Yaddaden, C., Berouaken, M. et al. Electrochemical Detection of 2,4,6-Trinitrotoluene on L-Cysteine-Modified Porous Silicon Electrode in Dimethyl Sulfoxide Solution. Silicon 16, 3111–3120 (2024). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12633-024-02885-1

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