Study on the application of reduced graphene oxide and multiwall carbon nanotubes hybrid materials for simultaneous determination of catechol, hydroquinone, p-cresol and nitrite

In this paper, the reduced graphene oxide and multiwall carbon nanotubes hybrid materials (RGO-MWNTs) were prepared and a strategy for detecting environmental contaminations was proposed on the basis of RGO-MWNTs modified electrode. The hybrid materials were characterized by the scanning electron microscopy (SEM), atomic force microscopy (AFM). X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) and N-2 sorption-desorption isotherms. Due to the excellent catalytic activity, enhanced electrical conductivity and high surface area of the RGO-MWNTs, the simultaneous measurement of hydroquinone (HQ), catechol (CC), p-cresol (PC) and nitrite (NO2-) with four well-separate peaks was achieved at the RGO-MWNTs modified electrode. The linear response ranges for HQ CC, PC and NO2- were 8.0-391.0 mu M, 5.5-540.0 mu M, 5.0-430.0 mu M and 75.0-6060.0 mu M, correspondingly, and the detection limits (S/N = 3) were 2.6 mu M, 1.8 mu M, 1.6 mu M and 25.0 mu M. respectively. The outstanding film forming ability of RGO-MWNTs hybrid materials endowed the modified electrode enhanced stability. Furthermore, the fabricated sensor was applied for the simultaneous determination of HQ, CC, PC and NO2- in the river water sample. (C) 2012 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.