Three-dimensional Conducting PEDOT:PSS/MWCNTs Aerogels as Electrochemical Sensing Platform for Sensitive Determination of 2,4-dichlorophenol

Herein, conducting poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene):poly(styrenesulfonate) (PEDOT:PSS)/MWCNTs aerogels have been employed as sensitive electroanalytical platform for determination of 2,4-dichlorophenol (2,4-DCP). PEDOT:PSS/MWCNTs aerogels were synthesized by the first preparation of PEDOT:PSS hydrogel, followed by injecting MWCNTs suspension into PEDOT:PSS hydrogel and finally freeze drying. The characterization results from scanning electron microscopy (SEM), Raman spectra, and electrochemical measurements indicate that the PEDOT:PSS /MWCNTs aerogels possess hierarchical porous structures, good electrical conductivity, and abundant active sites. The embedding of MWCNTs into PEDOT:PSS aerogels matrix significantly enhances the electrocatalytic performance of the resulting composite aerogels. The PEDOT:PSS/MWCNTs aerogels modified electrode shows excellent electrocatalytic activity to 2,4-DCP oxidation. Accordingly, a low limit of detection of 1.0 nM (S/N= 3) and a wide linear range of 8.0 nM-15.0 mu M are achieved. Besides, with satisfactory stability and selectivity, the proposed sensor was successfully applied to detect 2,4-DCP in actual samples.

Automated summary

In this study, PEDOT:PSS/MWCNTs aerogels were utilized as a sensitive electroanalytical platform for the determination of 2,4-DCP, showing excellent electrocatalytic performance and detection sensitivity.