Development of Pd@MWCNT-Co₃O₄ Electrode Sensors Using Cobalt Recovered from Spent Lithium Ion Batteries

Abstract

The rampant use of various types of energy storage devices for different applications poses a great threat to the environment as most of the materials are not recycled properly after their usage. Battery materials that are exposed to the environment without proper recycling or recovery protocol are of more concern. In the present work, the chemical components recovered from spent lithium batteries were processed through suitable methods and utilized for the fabrication of electrode materials for sensor application. The present work demonstrates a highly sensitive and cost-effective method for fabricating disposable non-enzymatic glucose sensors based on Pd functionalized multiwall carbon nanotube (MWCNT)-Co3O4 electrode using cobalt recovered from a spent Li-ion battery. The incorporation of palladium onto the MWCNT and further deposition of this composite onto the Co3O4 substrate greatly enhanced the glucose sensing characteristics. The sensing behavior of the Co3O4 electrode and Pd@MWCNT-Co3O4 electrode towards glucose electro-oxidation were compared using cyclic voltammetry and chronoamperometric techniques. A very low detection limit of 0.6µM was obtained by the Pd@MWCNT-Co3O4 electrode towards glucose sensing. The sensor fabrication process was economical and possessed excellent stability, selectivity and good reproducibility.