Ultrathin
three-dimensional (3D) interconnected porous carbon nanosheets
(PCNs) derived from Moringa oleifera barks (commonly known as the drumstick tree) with electrochemical
(EC) sensor performance was employed as the carbon precursor. In this
study, we described a simple one-step pyrolysis technique to generate
hierarchical PCN using a high-temperature pyrolysis and KOH activation
procedure. Using the microwave-solvothermal approach, platinum–nickel
bimetallic octahedral nanoparticles were decorated on ultrathin 3D
PCN (referred to as Pt–Ni@PCN). The morphological, structural,
and EC properties of the Pt–Ni@PCN nanocomposite were well
characterized. Using cyclic voltammetry and linear sweep voltammetry,
the dihydroxybenzene (DHB) isomers hydroquinone, catechol, and resorcinol
were identified individually as well as simultaneously. The screen-printed
carbon electrode-modified nanocomposite [Pt–Ni@PCN/screen-printed
carbon electrode (SPCE)] served as an outstanding electron (e–)-transfer mediator for DHB isomer oxidation, yielding
limits of detection of 0.0093, 0.0263, and 0.0529 μM, respectively.
Also, the Pt–Ni@PCN/SPCE sensor has exceptional selectivity,
long-term durability, reproducibility, repeatability, and anti-interference.
Furthermore, the proposed sensor can be exploited to detect simultaneously
environmental pollutants in river, lake, and tap water samples with
good recovery rates.