Selective determination of trichloroacetic acid using silver nanoparticle coated multi-walled carbon nanotubes

Silver nanoparticle coated multi-walled carbon nanotubes (Ag/MWCNT) were prepared and used to fabricate a modified electrode. The Ag/MWCNT composites were observed by a transmission electron microscope (TEM), and the electrochemical properties of the Ag/MWCNT composite modified glassy carbon electrode were characterized by electrochemical measurements. The results showed that these composites had a favorable catalytic ability for the reduction of trichloroacetic acid (TCAA). Square wave voltammetric (SWV) technique was applied to detect TCAA. Under optimum conditions, the voltammetric determination of TCAA was performed with a linear range of 5.0 x 10(-6)-1.2 x 10(-4) mol L-1 and a detection limit of 1.9 x 10(-6) mol L-1(S/N = 3). (C) 2010 Published by Elsevier B.V.