Electrochemical sensor for naphthols based on gold nanoparticles/hollow nitrogen-doped carbon microsphere hybrids functionalized with SH-β-cyclodextrin

Due to awfully harmful to the environment and human health, the qualitative and quantitative determinations of naphthols [1-naphthol (1-NAP) and 2-naphthol (2-NAP)] are of great significance and receive great attention. In this paper, gold nanoparticles (AuNPs)/hollow nitrogen-doped carbon microspheres (HNCMS) hybrids (AuNPs/HNCMS) were prepared and functionalized with thiolated-β-cyclodextrin (HS-β-CD) for the first time, and then applied successfully in sensitive and simultaneous electrochemical detection of naphthols. The results show that the oxidation peak currents of naphthols obtained on the HS-β-CD/AuNPs/HNCMS modified glassy carbon (GC) electrode are much higher than that on the AuNPs/HNCMS/GC, HNCMS/GC and bare GC electrodes. Additionally, compared with other electrochemical sensors developed previously, the proposed electrode results in improved detection limits of about four times for 1-NAP (1.0 nM) and two orders of magnitude for 2-NAP (1.2 nM). The linear response ranges of both 1-NAP and 2-NAP are 2–150 nM.

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► HS-β-CD/AuNPs/hollow nitrogen-doped carbon microspheres hybrids were synthesized.
► A new electrochemical sensor for naphthols was developed based on the prepared hybrids.
► The sensor shows good analytical performance for simultaneous detection of naphthols.