Fullerene-β-Cyclodextrin Conjugate Based Electrochemical Sensing Device for Ultrasensitive Detection of p-Nitrophenol

The article describes the use of a fullerene (C-60)--cyclodextrin conjugate, synthesized via 1,3-dipolar cycloaddition, for the ultrasensitive electrochemical detection of p-nitrophenol. This conjugate was successfully immobilized on the surface of a glassy carbon electrode and the developed device showed high activity towards p-nitrophenol due to the synergetic effect of C-60, the latter becoming highly conductive upon reduction. The determination of p-nitrophenol was performed by using square wave voltammetry over a concentration range from 2.8x10(-9)molL(-1) to 4.2x10(-7)molL(-1) and the detection limit was calculated to be 1.2x10(-9)molL(-1).