Structural transformation of carbon electrodes for simultaneous determination of dihydroxybenzene isomers

A simple two-step protocol is developed to readily transform the surface structure of commercial carbon electrodes. Scanning electron microscopy and Raman spectra illustrate the creation of increasing number of edge plane sites, whereas energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy illustrates that oxygen content on the surface decreases. With differential pulse voltammetry the modified electrode could simultaneously determine 1,4-hydroquinone and pyrocatechol with the limit of 2.0 μM and 5.0 μM, respectively. This low cost, easy to fabricate electrode is stable and can be reused, providing an alternative to those carbon nanotube based electrodes for sensitive detection of dihydroxybenzene isomers.

► Provided a simple approach to modify the microstructure of a solid carbon electrode.
► Raman spectra confirm the increase of edge plane site after the modification.
► The as-prepared electrode can simultaneously determine dihydroxybenzene isomers.
► The modified electrode has a standard deviation less than 1% in 30 HQ measurements.
► The HQ detection limit is 2.0 μM in the presence of 50 μM CC, or 0.8 μM without CC.