Comparative investigation of bioflavonoid electrocatalysis in 1D, 2D, and 3D carbon nanomaterials for simultaneous detection of naringin and hesperidin in fruits

Electrocatalysis of bioflavonoids in carbon nanomaterials plays an important role in electrochemical sensors for the detection of their content in fruits. In this study, three types of carbon nanomaterials with 1D, 2D, and 3D structures, namely carbon nanotubes (CNTs), graphene oxide (GO), and Ketjen black (KB), were modified onto glassy carbon electrodes for the electrocatalysis of hesperidin and naringin, which are two important bioflavonoids in fruits. As a result, the CNT-modified electrodes showed the highest electrocatalytic activity for both hesperidin and naringin compared to GO and KB. The morphology and surface chemistry of the carbon nanomaterials were characterized. The structural defects and carbon status of carbon nanomaterials are proposed to be the most important factors affecting the electrocatalysis of hesperidin and naringin. Finally, a CNT-based electrochemical sensor was fabricated to simultaneously detect hesperidin and naringin. Real sample tests on the fruit extract of Citrus grandis Tomentosa show that the proposed electrochemical sensors with high recovery thus could be employed in practical applications.

Automated summary

Electrocatalysis of bioflavonoids in carbon nanomaterials, specifically hesperidin and naringin, plays a crucial role in electrochemical sensors for fruit analysis. This study found that carbon nanotubes (CNTs) modified electrodes exhibited the highest electrocatalytic activity compared to graphene oxide (GO) and Ketjen black (KB), attributed to the morphology and surface chemistry of the carbon nanomaterials. The electrochemical sensor based on CNTs successfully detected hesperidin and naringin in fruit extract, demonstrating its practical applicability.