Design of Novel Ytterbium Molybdate Nanoflakes Anchored Carbon Nanofibers: Challenging Sustainable Catalyst for the Detection and Degradation of Assassination Weapon (Paraoxon-Ethyl)

Design of resourceful and sustainable catalyst for the trace level identification as well as detoxification of toxic pollutants into the environment is a major concern to researchers. In view of that, we developed novel flakelike ytterbium molybdate (YbMoO4; YbM) anchored on carbon nanofibers (YbM/f-CNFs) nanocomposite via simple wet-chemical route followed by a sonication process. The physicochemical properties of as-prepared YbM/f-CNFs were carried out by several spectroscopic techniques. The YbM/f-CNFs nanocomposite exhibited excellent electrocatalyst as well as photocatalyst for the detection and detoxification of chemical warfare agent paraoxon-ethyl (PTL). Interestingly, the electrochemical results illustrated that the YbM/f-CNFs nanocomposite exhibited an excellent electrocatalytic activity in terms of enhanced cathodic peak current and lower peak potential when compared with other modified electrodes. Furthermore, the YbM/f-CNFs modified electrode showed more extended linear response ranges (0.01–12 and 14–406 μM), lower detection limit (2 nM), good sensitivity (2.8 μAμM–1cm–2), and excellent selectivity for the PTL sensing. Besides, the YbM/f-CNFs catalyst had good recovery to PTL in soil and water sample analysis. In addition, the YbM/f-CNFs nanocomposite possesses remarkable photocatalytic activity and stability toward the degradation and mineralization of PTL under visible light irradiation. Furthermore, a possible detection and degradation mechanism was proposed toward PTL. This study provides a novel idea for the design of proficient and stable bifunctional catalyst for the real-time identification and remediation of lethal pollutants.