Effective hydroquinone detection using a manganese stannate/functionalized carbon black nanocomposite

Abstract

Hydroquinone (HQ) is widely used in various industrial applications including cosmetics, dyes, and pharmaceuticals. Because of their potential carcinogenic effects, the development of sensitive and selective HQ detection methods is of utmost importance. We have combined cube-structured manganese stannate (Mn2SnO4) with functionalized carbon black (f-CB), giving rise to a remarkable synergy. Operating independently, Mn2SnO4 may not attain optimal efficiency in certain chemical reactions due to its inherent characteristics. Upon integration Mn2SnO4 with f-CB, a transformative phenomenon unfolds. The Mn2SnO4/f-CB nanocomposite was successfully synthesized and fully characterized using powder X-ray diffraction (PXRD) analysis, scanning electron microscopy (SEM), raman spectroscopy, and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy. The electrochemical properties of the composites were evaluated using cyclic and linear sweep voltammetry. The hybrid nanocomposite (Mn2SnO4/f-CB) was used as the electrochemical sensor (Mn2SnO4/f-CB/SPCE sensor) to detect HQ at the nanomolar level (LOD; 7 nM) with a linear range of 0.005 to 70.80 µM and display good sensitivity (1.2903 µA·µM−1·cm−2), owing to the synergistic effects of Mn2SnO4 and f-CB components. This study provides a promising approach for the design of sensitive and selective sensors for the detection of hazardous organic compounds.