An electrochemical study of benzofuran derivative in modified electrode-based CNT/ionic liquids for determining nanomolar concentrations of hydrazine

•The electrooxidation of hydrazine was studied by ionic liquid carbon paste electrode.•The DBC-IL/CNPE exhibits high sensitivity, good repeatability and wide linear range.•Hydrazine can be detected with wide linear range and a low detection limit.•This sensor was applied in determination of hydrazine in some water samples.

The electrochemical oxidation of 7-(1,3-dithiolan-2-yl)-9, 10-dihydroxy-6H-benzofuro [3,2-c] chromen-6-on (as a benzofuran derivative) in carbon nanotube paste electrode-based ionic liquids was studied the in aqueous solution. A carbon paste electrode (CPE) modified with benzofuran derivative (DBC) and takes the advantages of ionic liquid (IL), 1-butyl-3-methylimidazolium hexafluorophosphate and carbon nanotube (CNTs) was constructed and used as an excellent sensor electrocatalyst to oxidation of hydrazine. This new electrode due to its enhanced conductivity presented very large current response from electroactive substrates. The modified electrode was characterized by a scanning electron microscope, electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) and voltammetry. Electrochemical behavior of hydrazine at the modified electrode had been investigated in pH 7.0 phosphate buffer solution by cyclic voltammetry, chronoamperometry and differential pulse voltammetry (DPV). The results showed an efficient catalytic activity of the electrode for the electrooxidation of hydrazine, which leads to a reduction in its overpotential by more than 480 mV. Differential pulse voltammetry (DPV) of hydrazine at the modified electrode exhibited two linear dynamic ranges with a detection limit (3σ) of 66 nM. DPV was used for quantitation of hydrazine in water samples by the standard addition method.

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