2D/2D heterojunction of graphitic carbon nitride and hexagonal boron nitride nanosheets mediated electrochemical detection of hazardous hydroquinone with high selectivity and sensitivity

Abstract

The presence of organic pollutants in our environment is often unnoticed and they silently create serious health hazards. Monitoring and control of these harmful chemicals in both land and water is very much necessary. Graphitic carbon nitride/boron nitride (g-C3N4/BN) nanocomposites were successfully synthesized through a solvothermal process and characterized via XRD, FTIR, UV-Visible, SEM, TEM, and XPS techniques. The electrochemical behavior of g-C3N4/BN nanocomposites was studied using Cyclic Voltammetry (CV), impedance potential, and A.C – impedance experiments. In this work, g-C3N4/BN, 2D‐2D nanocomposite-based electrochemical sensor was developed to detect hazardous hydroquinone (HydQ). CV, Differential Pulse Voltammetry (DPV), and amperometric detection techniques were employed for the detection of HydQ and achieved a good limit of detection of 8.2 nM. g-C3N4/BN(1:1)@GCE exhibits a lower flat band potential of −2.15 V and charge transfer resistance (Rct) of 375.0 Ω than other ratios of g-C3N4/BN nanocomposites based electrodes, making it most suitable for sensor application. The practicality of the prepared electrochemical sensor was validated by performing real sample analysis using industrial wastewater and tap water as analytes.