Development and application of tetrabromobisphenol A imprinted electrochemical sensor based on graphene/carbon nanotubes three-dimensional nanocomposites modified carbon electrode

•A novel Gr/CNTs 3D nanocomposites modified TBBPA imprinted sensor was developed.•The imprinted sensor showed high selectivity and sensitivity toward TBBPA.•The imprinted sensor was used to detect TBBPA in fish samples successfully.

A novel imprinted electrochemical sensor based on graphene/carbon nanotubes three-dimensional (3D) nanocomposites modified carbon electrode was developed for the determination of tetrabromobisphenol A. The imprinted film was prepared by one-step electrodeposition technique with pyrrole as the functional monomer and tetrabromobisphenol A as the template molecule. The imprinted sensor was used for the determination of tetrabromobisphenol A with differential pulse voltammetry. A linear relationship between the response currents and the negative logarithm of tetrabromobisphenol A concentrations was obtained in the concentrations range of 1.0×10−11–1.0×10−8 mol L−1 with a detection limit of 3.7×10−12 mol L−1 (S/N=3). The proposed imprinted sensor showed excellent selectivity towards tetrabromobisphenol A. With good reproducibility and stability, the imprinted electrochemical sensor was used to detect tetrabromobisphenol A in fish samples successfully with the recoveries of 93.3–107.7%.

Graphical abstractA highly sensitive and selective imprinted electrochemical sensor based on graphene/carbon nanotubes 3D nanocomposites modified carbon electrode was prepared for the determination of tetrabromobisphenol A in fish samples with a detection limit of 3.7×10−12 mol L−1.Figure optionsDownload full-size imageDownload as PowerPoint slide