An electrochemical sensor based on electrochemically activated carbon cloth and poly (o-aminothiophenol) cross-linked nanogold imprinted layer for the determination of tert-butylhydroquinone.

ABSTRACT

In this study, an electrochemical sensor based on MoS2 with enhanced electrochemical signals from electrochemically activated carbon cloth (EACC) electrodes and cross-linked o-aminothiophenol functionalized AuNPs (o-ATP@AuNPs) was developed for the detection of the unsaturated vegetable oil antioxidant tert-butylhydroquinone (TBHQ). In this approach, carbon cloth is activated through the implementation of electrochemical methods, thereby effectively increasing its specific surface area. The resulting EACC, serving as an electrode substrate, enables the growth of additional nanomaterials and enhances conductivity. The incorporation of MoS2 effectively augments the sensitivity of the electrochemical sensor. Subsequently, MIP/MoS2/EMCC is formed via electropolymerization, utilizing TBHQ as the template molecule and o-ATP@AuNPs as the functional monomer. The SS bond of o-ATP ensures a strong and stable connection between MoS2 and o-ATP@AuNPs, thereby facilitating the immobilization of MIP. In addition, the high conductivity possessed by o-ATP@AuNPs could effectively improve the sensitivity of the electrochemical sensor. Under the optimal conditions, MIP/MoS2/EMCC could determine TBHQ in the range of 1 × 10-3 µM to 120 µM by differential pulse voltammetry (DPV) with a detection line of 0.72 nM. The proposed MIP/MoS2/EMCC is expected to be applied in the future for the selective and sensitive detection of TBHQ in vegetable oils.