Sphere-like MoS2 nanosheet arrays/reduced graphene oxide hybrid electrocatalyst for accurate electrochemical monitoring of toxic pollutant

Nanoscale materials are of significant interest and excellent electrocatalysts for feasible and rapid electro-chemical sensing of toxic nitro compounds and are a crucial need for human health and safety applications. This work designed a sphere-like MoS2 nanosheet array decorated on reduced graphene oxide (MoS2 NSAs/rGO) by a simple hydrothermal method for accurate electrochemical detection of nitrobenzene (NB) in water samples. The physicochemical characterizations are well characterized and confirm the successful MoS2 NSAs/rGO formation. Further, the MoS2 NSAs/rGO modified GCE investigated for NB determination using the voltammetry technique, which shows a wide linear range of 0.005-849.505 mu M with a low limit of detection (LOD) of 0.0072 mu M and excellent sensitivity of 1.8985 mu A mu M-1 cm-2. Moreover, the developed sensor exhibited good cycle stability (80.35%), selectivity, repeatability, and reproducibility. Finally, the real-sample analysis for the developed sensor accomplished in tap and river water samples with appreciable recoveries thus provides an effective platform for trace level detection of hazardous NB determination in environmental samples.

Automated summary

This study successfully designed a MoS2 nanosheet array decorated on reduced graphene oxide for the electrochemical detection of nitrobenzene in water. The developed sensor showed a wide linear range, low limit of detection, excellent sensitivity, good cycle stability, and repeatability. It can effectively detect hazardous nitrobenzene in tap and river water samples.