Camellia oleifera derived carbon dots modified TiO2 as sensor for the rapid detection of 4-nitrophenol in wastewater

Abstract

This paper presents an innovative electrochemical sensor utilizing carbon dots modified with titanium dioxide (TiO2-CDs) for the rapid and accurate detection of 4-nitrophenol (4-NP) in wastewater. This sensor offers a cost-effective and efficient approach to on-site monitoring of 4-NP, a highly toxic and persistent environmental pollutant. The modification of the electrode material with TiO2-CDs significantly enhances the sensor's performance by improving sensitivity, selectivity, and stability. The synthesis of TiO2-CDs involves the integration of carbon dots derived from biomass with TiO2, resulting in a composite material with an enlarged surface area and enhanced photocatalytic properties. The unique hollow spherical structure of the TiO2-CDs further amplifies their photon absorption capacity. Electrochemical characterization validates the successful modification of the electrode surface and demonstrates the electrocatalytic activity of the TiO2-CDs modified electrode towards 4-NP. The sensor exhibits a linear correlation between the peak oxidation current and the concentration of 4-NP, enabling precise and reliable quantification. Notably, the sensor's detection range spans from 10 μM to 350 μM, with an impressively low detection limit of 0.12 μM. Real sample analysis of wastewater underscores the sensor's practical utility, revealing high recovery rates and minimal relative standard deviations. The development of this electrochemical sensor, based on TiO2-CDs, presents a promising solution for the swift and accurate detection of 4-NP in wastewater, offering potential advancements in pollution control, environmental monitoring, and wastewater treatment strategies.