Cresyl violet electropolymerization on functionalized multiwalled carbon nanotubes in carboxylic acid based ternary deep eutectic solvents for hydroquinone sensing

Abstract

The phenazine dye cresyl violet (CVio) has been evaluated as precursor for the preparation of a new electrochemical sensor based on poly(cresyl violet) deposited on multiwalled carbon nanotube (CNT) modified glassy carbon electrodes (GCE) in neutralized acid-doped ternary deep eutectic solvents (DES). DES with choline chloride as hydrogen bond acceptor and with different hydrogen bond donors (HBD), namely acetic acid, ethylene glycol and oxalic acid were evaluated for CVio electropolymerization by potential cycling. The best polymer films were obtained in ternary DES with the two HBD acetic acid plus ethylene glycol doped with H2SO4 and followed by NaOH neutralization. Electrochemical characterization (voltammetric and electrochemical impedance) showed the formation of anthraquinone groups during electropolymerization, which is initiated on the CNT by the formation of a cation radical. Anthraquinones in the polymer film led to an increased response at the modified electrode for the determination of hydroquinone (H2Q) with low LOD (0.25 µmol L−1) in a broad linear range (1–80 µmol L−1), with good reproducibility, repeatability, and stability. The sensor was successfully applied to the quantification of H2Q in dermatological creams with no matrix effect towards hydroquinone response.