An electrochemical sensing platform structured with carbon nanohorns for detecting some food borne contaminants

A simple and sensitive electrochemical sensor which was constructed with alkoxy silane and carbon nanohorns was first utilized to detect some food borne contaminants, including malachite green, sudans, triclosan, bisphenol A. Due to the large surface area, good conductivity, admirable electrochemical activity of carbon nanohorns and excellent immobility of alkoxy silane, the synergistic effect root from the easily controlled composition of organic-inorganic hybrid film was achieved. The present work demonstrated this functional film brings advantageous features such as stable and strong adherence to electrode matrix and excellent electrochemical catalysis, to electrochemical sensor to achieve advanced application. By choosing triclosan and malachite green as object, their kinetic parameters on this modified electrode were calculated and the relative quantitive protocols were established. Compared with previous reports, the designed sensor presented lower detection limit, higher sensitivity and more broad linear range. This electrochemical platform offered a useful tool for the on-site determination of food born contamination. (C) 2013 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.