Electrochemical sensor for catechol detection: Leveraging ITO@TiO2/RGO/ Pt nanocomposites for enhanced water quality monitoring

Abstract

Recent advancements in sensor technology have led to the development of an ITO@TiO2/RGO/Pt nanocomposite-based electrocatalyst for the detection of catechol (1,2-dihydroxybenzene) in water. Catechol is a harmful contaminant affecting human and aquatic life through polluted water and food. The nanocomposites were characterized using UV-Vis, FT-IR, FESEM, EDX, XRD, BET, zeta potential, and particle size analysis to evaluate their functionalities, morphology, composition, and surface properties. ITO glass was modified with these nanocomposites via the drop-casting method. Electrochemical characterization, including cyclic voltammetry and impedance spectroscopy, indicated optimal sensor performance with a scanning rate of 100 mV/s and pH 7 PBS, displaying a strong catechol response. The sensor demonstrated a linear range of 5-105 mu M with limits of detection (LOD) and quantification (LOQ) of 0.013 and 0.046 mu M, respectively, and recovery rates between 97.1 % and 101.3 % in water samples. It achieved over 7,580 turnovers with a TOF of 97.5 (mol Catalyst)- 1 & sdot;(min)-1 , though the TOF decreased to 34.45 after multiple uses.