Development of a sensitive and selective catechol amperometric sensor based on a novel In2O3-doped CuO decorated mesoporous carbon nanocomposite

Abstract

Catechol is known for its reactivity with various biomolecules, posing potential health risks. Therefore, in this research, we have successfully developed an electrochemical sensor with high sensitivity and selectivity for detecting catechol (CC). The sensor utilizes a novel In2O3-doped CuO decorated Mesoporous Carbon Nanocomposite (In2O3.CuO@MC) as the sensing material, which is applied to fabricate a glassy carbon electrode (GCE). The suitability of the In2O3.CuO@MC nanocomposite as a sensing material was thoroughly examined using various characterization techniques. The developed sensor exhibited remarkable performance, enabling the accurate catechol determination across a wide concentration range, from 0.5 to 3031 µM, in a neutral phosphate buffer solution. This sensor demonstrated a high sensitivity of 0.3803 µAµM−1cm−2 and an impressive detection limit of 0.048 µM. The sensor's exceptional sensitivity and selectivity make it capable of precisely quantifying catechol from real samples. Its robustness is further highlighted by its excellent reproducibility, repeatability, and stability. As a result, this sensor proves to be a reliable and effective tool for precise catechol determination.