Synthesis of bismuth nickelate nanorods and electrochemical detection of tartaric acid using nanorods modified electrode

Single crystalline bismuth nickelate nanorods with cubic Bi 12 NiO 19 phase and flat tips have been successfully synthesized by a facile hydrothermal route without any additives. Electron microscopy observations show that the length and diameter of the bismuth nickelate nanorods are 1–3 μm μm and 30–100 nm, respectively. The formation, length and diameter of the nanorods depend on the hydrothermal temperature and duration time. The formation of the bismuth nickelate nanorods are explained according to the nucleation and crystalline growth process. The bismuth nickelate nanorods are applied as the glassy carbon electrode (GCE) materials for the detection of tartaric acid in KCl solution. The roles of scan rate, electrolyte species and tartaric acid concentration on the electrochemical responses of tartaric acid have been investigated. The obtained linear concentration calibration plot shows a low detection limit of 0.52 μm, wide linear range of 0.001–2 mM and correlation coefficient of 0.996. The bismuth nickelate nanorods modified GCE shows good reproducibility and stability.