Br-terminated 2D Bi2WO6 nanosheets as a sensitive light-regenerated electrochemical sensor for detecting sulfamethoxazole antibiotic

Abstract Photochemical oxidation is an effectively renewable method for fouled electrode in electrochemical detection of organic pollutant, while the renewable ability is subjected by the surface-bound radicals of electrode. Herein, ultrathin two-dimensional (2D) Bi2WO6 nanosheets are rationally applied to detect sulfamethoxazole (SMX) antibiotic. Ultrathin 2D Bi2WO6 nanosheets electrode shows efficient detection ability and a nice photochemical renewable ability under light illumination. Crystal phase analysis, radical analysis, surface observation and pollutant degradation performance reveal that active radicals are chiefly responsible for the outstanding photochemical regeneration ability of ultrathin 2D Bi2WO6 nanosheets. Our work provides an advanced and stable electrochemical monitoring approach and an efficient, simple and low-cost photochemical oxidation sensor for SMX detection.