Synthesis of columnar-shaped CeO2 and electrochemical sensor for detecting phenol

Highly uniform columnar-shaped CeO2 was successfully prepared in large quantities by calcining a precursor, which was prepared by a simple hydrothermal method. The structure and morphology of the precursor and the columnar CeO2 were characterised by X-ray diffraction and scanning electron microscopy. The columnar CeO2 was fixed on a glassy carbon electrode to obtain a columnar CeO2 sensor for detection of phenol. The anodic peak current was proportional to the phenol concentration in the range of 0.005–0.225 mmol l−1 (R = 0.995) and 0.225–1.125 mmol l−1 (R = 0.998) with the detection limit of 0.9 μmol l−1. This electrochemical method has the advantages of simplicity and ease of fabrication, rapid detection, low cost of the apparatus and wide dynamic ranges.