Advancing forensic investigations based on TiO2/Bi2O3 electrochemical sensor for precise potassium estimation in vitreous humor

In the domain of criminal investigations, the integration of nanotechnology has emerged as a transformative force, mirroring advancements across diverse scientific realms. This study focuses on leveraging the synergistic potential of a bimetallic TiO2/Bi2O3 nano-composite to meticulously evaluate vitreous potassium levels in human cadavers. The designed TiO2/Bi2O3 nano-composite exhibits a finely structured morphology, characterized by diminutive sheet-like formations spanning the nano-scale dimension of 20-250 nm. Through rigorous analysis, we establish a robust linear correlation (R² = 0.992) between the nanocomposite and potassium concentrations in postmortem vitreous samples. Notably, the nano-composite demonstrates an exceptional limit of detection at 0.001 nM, surpassing comparable materials and methodologies reported to date (FTIR, GC-MS and biochemical analysis) and provide measurement of time since death with a precision of 1 h. The elevated sensitivity of the nano-composite to potassium concentrations opens new possibilities for enhancing the accuracy and efficiency of forensic analyses, ultimately aiding in the pursuit of justice.