Carbon-based nanomaterials - A promising electrochemical sensor toward persistent toxic substance

Persistent toxic substance (PTS) poses a high threat to the ecological environment and human beings because of its difficult degradation and strong toxicity. Therefore, developing a safe and simple method to detect PTS is of significance. Among many detection methods, the electrochemical method shows many advantages, including high sensitivity, low limit of detection (LOD), and low cost. Furthermore, compared with other nanomaterials, carbon-based nanomaterials are one of the excellent electrode modification materials owing to their large specific surface area and strong electron transmission performance. Therefore, the selectivity and sensitivity of the electrochemical system toward PTS could be enhanced by modifying the electrode with carbon-based nanomaterials. We comprehensively review the progress of some promising carbon-based nanomaterials in the electrochemical detection of PTS in recent years, including carbon nanotubes, graphene, and other carbon-based nanomaterials. (C) 2019 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.