Facile synthesis of cobalt doped hematite nanospheres: Magnetic and their electrochemical sensing properties

Nanocrystalline pure α-Fe2O3 and Co-doped α-Fe2O3 powders were synthesized by the hydrolysis method. The structure and the morphology of the samples were characterized by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), X-ray diffraction (XRD) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). The magnetic property of the samples was studied by vibrating sample magnetometer (VSM) at room temperature, which showed that the Co-doped α-Fe2O3 have a weaker ferromagnetic behavior than the pure α-Fe2O3. The electrochemical sensing ability of ascorbic acid (AA) and uric acid (UA) by pure α-Fe2O3 and Co-doped α-Fe2O3 modified glassy carbon electrode (GCE) exhibited higher anodic current response with a shift in positive potential than the bare GCE. Compared with pure α-Fe2O3, Co-doped α-Fe2O3 showed enhanced electrochemical sensing performance.

► 5-20% Co-doped α-Fe2O3 nanospheres were prepared by simple hydrolysis method.
► Addition of Cobalt in α-Fe2O3 has significant changes in magnetic and electrochemical sensing properties of α-Fe2O3.
► Especially 5% Co-doped α-Fe2O3 shows an excellent electrochemical sensing ability for ascorbic acid and uric acid.