Large scale load of phosphotungstic acid on multiwalled carbon nanotubes with a grafted poly(4-vinylpyridine) linker

► Carbon nanotubes was grafted with poly(4-vinylpyridine). ► Phosphotungstic acid was deposited onto carbon nanotubes with this polymer linker. ► This deposition is highly uniform and large scale. ► These phosphotungstic acid/carbon nanotubes hybrids can be used as nitrite sensor. ► Its linear concentration is 1.2 to 17.5 μM with a detection limit of 0.2 μM.