Chapter 8 - Hybrid type of electroanalytical nanosensors for environmental monitoring

Abstract

The environment has been seriously damaged by waste and residues from rapid urbanization and industrialization. These pollutants accumulating in the environment threaten the life of both humans and other living things. It is very important to develop rapid techniques for the detection of these contaminants that harm the environment and their use in environmental applications. In terms of cost and performance, current remediation technologies are insufficient to remove low-concentration pollutants. Hybrid-based nanomaterials have unique advantages such as precisely tunable surface areas, durability, fast detection, and high sensitivity. Due to surface functionalization, nanomaterials can be easily used to increase their selectivity and specificity toward various contaminants. Hybrid-based nanomaterials with high surface-to-volume ratios and high adsorption rates are promising materials due to their target-specific, easily renewable, and reusable properties. Hybrid-based nanomaterials also allow the development of portable sensors and decontamination devices with high sensitivity. Electrochemical nanosensors have emerged as one of the suitable technologies for detecting hazardous pollutants in environmental chemistry due to their high sensitivity and selectivity, rapid response time, and low cost. This review focuses on hybrid nanomaterial-based electrochemical sensors for the removal of hazardous pollutants such as organic materials, heavy metal ions, pharmaceuticals, dyes, and pathogens. In addition, this review provides a critical review and overview of studies on hybrid nanomaterials. Finally, the use and future applications of hybrid nanomaterials in the removal of environmental pollutants are discussed in detail.