Nanointerfaces of expanded graphite and Fe2O3 nanomaterials for electrochemical monitoring of multiple organic pollutants

Abstract Organic pollutants are highly biological toxicity to public health and environments. Their sensitive detection is highly required. Herein, a new electrochemical interface for sensitive and selective minoring of tetrabromobisphenol A (TBBPA), sunset yellow (SY), and tartrazine (Tr) is then developed with the composite of Fe2O3 nanomaterials and expanded graphite (EG) as the sensing materials. Three Fe2O3 nanomaterials, synthesized via a hydrothermal method, feature the morphologies of nanoplate, nanorod, and a three-dimensional flower-like (f-Fe2O3) structure. Electrochemical activity of these nanocomposites is found to be dependent on the morphology of synthesized Fe2O3 nanomaterials. The composite of f-Fe2O3/EG displays the biggest electrochemical active area and the lowest electron transfer resistance towards redox probes, due to a 3D porous hierarchical structure of f-Fe2O3 and a high conductivity of EG. The best sensing performance of three pollutants was thus achieved on this composite coated electrode with a limit of detection of 1.23, 0.89 and 2.17 nM for TBBPA, SY, and Tr, respectively.