Three-dimensional graphite paper based imprinted electrochemical sensor for tertiary butylhydroquinone selective recognition and sensitive detection

In this work, gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) and a molecular imprinted polymer (MIP) were modified on an exfoliated graphite paper (EGP) surface to fabricate a novel electrochemical sensor for tertiary butylhydroquinone (TBHQ) selective detection. The scanning electron microscope image showed that the sensor possessed a three-dimensional (3D) structure with AuNPs and MIP uniform coverage. The high surface area of the 3D sensor and the thin film of MIP made the imprinted cavities situate at the surface or approximately to the surface of the sensor to speed up the mass transfer. Due to the good conduction of AuNPs and EGP, as well as large surface area of EGP, the sensor showed a high sensitivity for TBHQ detection. The linear range were 8.0 × 10−8 − 1.0 × 10−4 mol/L and 7.0 × 10−8 mol/L, in a range of 8.0 × 10−8 − 1.0 × 10−6 mol/L, 1.0 × 10−6-1.0 × 10−4 mol/L. And the limit of detection (LOD) was 1.2 × 10−8 mol/L (S/N = 3). Owing to the specific adsorption of MIP, the sensors can selectively recognize TBHQ from its structural similar compounds. The sensor has been applied to analyze TBHQ in real samples with satisfactory results. The simple, low cost, and effective sensor reported here has promising perspectives for other compounds rapid recognition and sensitive detection.