Electrochemical Determination of 2,4,6-Trinitrotoluene by Linear Sweep Voltammetry Using a Gold Nanoparticle/Mesoporous Graphitic Carbon Nitride Modified Glassy Carbon Electrode

• Published in: Analytical letters Vol. 55; no. 17; pp. 2683 - 2696
• Main Authors: Xi, Shan-Shan, Sun, Yun-Yun, Wang, Zhi-Wen, Liu, Yao, Liu, Hao, Chen, Xing
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Abingdon Taylor & Francis 13.09.2022; Taylor & Francis Ltd
• Subjects: 2,4,6-trinitrotoluene; Carbon; Carbon nitride; Chemical sensors; Electrochemical analysis; Electrodes; Electron microscopy; Electrons; Glassy carbon; glassy carbon electrode; Gold; Gold nanoparticles; linear sweep voltammetry; mesoporous graphitic carbon nitride; Microscopy; Nanocomposites; Nanoparticles; Photoelectrons; Selectivity; Sensors; Spectrum analysis; Trinitrotoluene; Ultraviolet reflection; Ultraviolet spectroscopy; Voltammetry; Water analysis; X ray photoelectron spectroscopy
• ISSN: 0003-2719; 1532-236X
• DOI: 10.1080/00032719.2022.2068565

A novel electrochemical sensor for 2,4,6-trinitrotoluene (TNT) was constructed using a glassy carbon electrode (GCE) modified with gold nanoparticles (AuNPs)/mesoporous graphitic carbon nitride(mpg-C 3 N 4 ) nanocomposite (hereafter designated by AuNPs/mpg-C 3 N 4 ). A facile method based on ultraviolet excitation was used to produce the AuNPs/mpg-C 3 N 4 nanocomposite. The new AuNPs/mpg-C 3 N 4 nanocomposite was characterized by scanning electron microscopy (SEM), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), X-ray diffraction (XRD), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), and ultraviolet-visible diffuse reflectance spectroscopy. The AuNPs were evenly distributed on the surface of mpg-C 3 N 4 . The AuNPs/mpg-C 3 N 4 modified GCE sensor shows high sensitivity (viz., 0.32 μA/μM) and a low TNT detection limit (42 ppb) by linear sweep voltammetry (LSV). The enhanced electrochemical performance of AuNPs/mpg-C 3 N 4 GCE is attributed to synergistic interactions between AuNPs and mpg-C 3 N 4 . The AuNPs/mpg-C 3 N 4 /GCE demonstrated good selectivity, stability, and reproducibility for TNT. The AuNPs/mpg-C 3 N 4 /GCE show a 100% ± 5% TNT recovery for natural water analysis. The results show the potential in AuNPs/mpg-C 3 N 4 /GCE sensor applications for the determination of TNT.