Formulation of hydrophobic hybrid nano-ink with high interfacial potential for the electrochemical detection of triclosan

Abstract

In the era of nanotechnology, there is a focus on making analytical devices smaller and more portable, enabling real-time, on-site detection. One approach to achieving this goal is to design a compact electrode using specialized nano ink. This work is focused on the nano-ink formulation. Its constituents include an active material (vinyl functionalized Polyhedral oligomeric silsesquioxane: V-POSS), infused with conductive carbon (multi-walled carbon nanotubes: MWCNT) additive (aids uniform electron conduction) along with the polymeric (Polyvinylidene fluoride: PVDF) binders dissolved in suitable solvents (Dimethyl formamide: DMF) to attain the thixotropic effect. The hydrophobic POSS-based hybrid material holding intriguing properties of tailorable functionality, high interfacial potential, and good charge transferability was embraced as the lead active material with the MWCNT conductive matrix. The physiochemical and electrochemical characterization of the formulated ink was carried out. Primary electrochemical sensing and optimization were performed using the conventional setup towards the detection of triclosan (TCL) (endocrine disruptor cum aquatic pollutant) detection. The real-time analysis to monitor the usage levels of TCL in perfumeries as quality control (QC) and in water samples was performed followed by cross-validation with the HPLC-UV technique. The developed V-POSS: MWCNT nano ink (POSS-based nano ink: PBNI) @GCE sensor showed a low detection limit of 0.43 pM with a sensitivity of 5.4316 µA/pM and a linear dynamic range of 1 pM – 1 nM indicating the excellent electrochemical activity of the formulation towards TCL monitoring.