Akademik Veri Yönetim Sistemi
Applied Surface Science, cilt.740, 2026 (SCI-Expanded, Scopus)
Surface chemistry plays a key role in determining electrochemical performance of nanoparticle-based sensors. This study reports a novel combination of surface ligand and heteroatom substitution on cobalt ferrite (CFO) nanoparticles to enhance electrochemical detection of gallic acid (GA). CFO nanoparticles were functionalized with either oleic acid (OA) or dihydrocaffeic acid (DHCA) and further modified by partial substitution of Co/Fe with Zn/Ga, respectively, followed by thermal treatment. Structural and morphological analyses performed using X-ray diffraction (XRD) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM) confirmed retention of cubic spinel phase, with no significant changes in particle size or morphology. Surface chemistry and thermal stability were investigated using Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), zeta-potential, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), thermogravimetric–mass spectrometry (TG-MS), and temperature-programmed desorption (TPD). The cyclic voltammetry (CV) revealed that DHCA-functionalized nanoparticles exhibit higher oxidation currents and improved reversibility compared to OA-coated samples, indicating enhanced electron-transfer kinetics. In addition, substitution with Zn and Ga, along with thermal treatment, further modulates electrochemical response of CFO NPs, contributing to improved detection of GA. These findings demonstrate that combined control of surface functionalization, heteroatom substitution and annealing, represents an effective pathway for tuning electrochemical behavior of CFO nanoparticles, providing targeted approach for development of sensitive GA sensors.