A solvothermal synthesis of ultrasmall cerium oxide nanoparticles (USCeOxNPs) with an average size of 0.73 ± 0.07 nm using deep eutectic solvent (DES) as a stabilizing medium at a temperature of 90 ºC is reported. Transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and energy dispersive spectroscopy (EDS) were used to morphologically characterize the USCeOxNPs. These revealed approximately spherical shapes with emission lines characteristic of cerium. Selected area electron diffraction (SAED) was used to determine the crystalline structure of the cerium oxide nanoparticles (CeO2NPs), revealing the presence of crystalline cubic structures. The USCeOxNPs-DES/CB film was characterized by scanning electron microscopy (SEM), which demonstrated the spherical characteristic of CB with layers slightly covered by DES residues. DES was characterized by Fourier transform infrared (FT-IR) and nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR), indicating its formation through hydrogen bonds between the precursors. An electrochemical sensor for dopamine (DA) determination in biological fluids was developed using the USCeOxNPs together with carbon black (CB). An enhanced current response was observed on DA voltammetric determination, and this can be attributed to the USCeOxNPs. This sensor displayed linear responses for DA in the range 5.0 × 10-7 mol L-1 to 3.2 × 10-4 mol L-1, with a limit of detection of 80 nmol L-1. Besides detectability, excellent performances were verified for repeatability and anti-interference. The sensor based on USCeOxNPs synthesized in DES in a simpler and environmentally friendly way was successfully applied to determine DA in biological matrix.

BPA aptamers functionalized cerium oxide nanoparticles encapsulated in zeolitic imidazolate framework-8 (CeO2@ZIF-8/Apt) were developed to fabricate an all-in-one portable platform for on-site quantitative detection of BPA. By combining biocomposites with a 3,3\',5,5\'-tetramethylbenzidine (TMB)-based sodium alginate (SA) hydrogel and smartphone-based RGB analysis, highly sensitive and convenient monitoring of BPA was achieved. CeO2@ZIF-8 composites were constructed using a novel surfactant-modified concentration-controlled synthesis strategy. After being functionalized with BPA aptamers, CeO2@ZIF-8/Apt biocomposites were used as target-response colorimetric probes for target recognition and signal transduction. The oxidase-like activity of CeO2@ZIF-8 was effectively sealed by BPA aptamers and controllably released in a concentration-dependent manner through aptamer-BPA reactions. Utilizing SA hydrogels containing TMB in the caps, a one-step sample addition and one-pot detection can be conveniently achieved and reliably quantified by smartphone-based RGB analysis in an instrument-free way. The detection range of this portable detection platform is 50 pg/mL to 500 ng/mL with limit of detection calculated as 34.88 pg/mL, comparable to that of conventional detection in the solution system (4.57 pg/mL). The recoveries in tap water, apple juice, and milk ranged from 91.02 % and 106.75 %. This work contributes new insights into the design of all-in-one detection platforms for contaminants monitoring in resource-constrained regions.