Conducting polymer‐coated, palladium‐functionalized multi‐walled carbon nanotubes for the electrochemical sensing of hydroxylamine

Electrochemical sensors of hydroxylamine were fabricated on glassy carbon electrodes (GCEs) by the electropolymerization of 3,4‐ethylenedioxypyrrole (EDOP) and 3,4‐ethylenedioxythiophene (EDOT) on palladium (Pd) nanoparticles attached to thiolated multi‐walled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs), denoted as PEDOP/MWCNT‐Pd/GCE and PEDOT/MWCNT‐Pd/GCE. The sensors were characterized by field emission scanning electron microscopy and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy. They showed strong catalytic activity toward the oxidation of hydroxylamine. Cyclic voltammetry and amperometry were used to characterize the sensors' performances. The detection limits of hydroxylamine by PEDOP/MWCNT‐Pd/GCE and PEDOT/MWCNT‐Pd/GCE were 0.22 and 0.24 μM (S/N = 3), respectively. The sensors' sensitivity, selectivity, and stability were also investigated.

► Multi-wall carbon nanotubes-Pd nanoparticles (MWCNT-Pd) based electrodes. ► Electropolymerized electrodes by poly3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene(PEDOT). ► PEDOT/MWCNT-Pd has a low detection limit of 0.24 µM for hydroxylamine. ► PEDOT/MWCNT-Pd exhibits a wide linear range from 1 µM to 6 mM hydroxylamine. ► The resulting sensor shows fast response and good stability.