In this work, the development and characterization of a new ceramic material modified with polyaniline powder obtained by a high-power ultrasound sol-gel route is presented. A preliminary screening of the conducting polymer electroactivity was performed by means of cyclic voltammetry in free analyte solution. Remarkable figures of merit for 4-chloro-3-methylphenol (PCMC) determination, selected as the model organic analyte, was obtained with the developed material: the sensitivity and the limit of detection were 2.40 μA/μM·cm2 and 0.69 μM, respectively. The developed device was also successfully applied in the electrochemical determination of PCMC in water samples collected from different sources, obtaining recovery values ranging from 92% to 105%. The electrochemical performance of the device for the detection of other chlorophenols of interest was better in comparison with the bare electrode in all cases, due to the presence of the bulk modifier in the material. Therefore, the electrode material can be promoted for electrochemical assays of different chlorophenols in buffer and real water media for environmental monitoring.

A new electrochemical sensor device has been developed through the modification of a polyaniline-silicon oxide network with carbon black (CB). Enhanced electrical conductivity and antifouling properties have been achieved due to the integration of this cheap nanomaterial into the bulk of the sensor. The structure of the developed material was characterized using Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy, and scanning electron microscopy techniques. Cyclic voltammetry was used to characterize electrochemically the Sonogel-Carbon/Carbon Black-PANI (SNG-C/CB-PANI) sensor device. In addition, differential pulse voltammetry was employed to evaluate the analytical response of the sensor towards sundry chlorophenols, common environmental hazards in aqueous ecosystems. The modified sensor material showed excellent antifouling properties, which led to a better electroanalytical performance than the one displayed with the bare sensor. Notably, a sensitivity of 5.48 × 103 μA mM−1 cm−2 and a limit of detection of 0.83 μM were obtained in the determination of 4-chloro-3-methylphenol (PCMC) at a working potential of 0.78 V (vs. 3 M Ag/AgCl/KCl), along with proficient values of reproducibility and repeatability (relative standard deviation < 3%). Finally, the analysis of PCMC was carried out in multiple validated water samples using the synthesized SNG-C/CB-PANI sensor device, obtaining excellent results of recovery values (97–104%). The synergetic effect of polyaniline and carbon black leads to novel antifouling and electrocatalytic effects that improve the applicability of this sensor in sample analysis versus complex conventional devices. Graphical abstract