Sodium-Polyacrylate-Based Electrochemical Sensors for Highly Sensitive Detection of Gaseous Phenol at Room Temperature

Abstract

The detection of volatile organic compounds with electrochemical gas sensors is still very challenging regarding their sensitivity, selectivity, and operation at room temperature. There is a need for robust, sensitive, inexpensive, and yet easy-to-operate sensors for phenol and other phenolic compounds that function reliably under ambient conditions. Herein, we present a phenol gas sensor based on a combination of a semisolid, alkaline sodium polyacrylate, and commercial screen-printed electrodes. Sodium polyacrylate was employed as a multifunctional sensing material serving as a (i) gel-like electrolyte, (ii) accumulation milieu, and (iii) derivatization medium. Under ambient conditions, the sensor showed excellent sensitivity in the low ppbv (μg m –3 ) range, a good linear operation in the examined concentration range of 0.1–1.0 ppmv for up to 105 min accumulation, and low sensitivity toward examined interferences. The sensor also indicated a possibility to differentiate between several phenolic compounds based on their oxidation potential. Given its favorable electroanalytical performance, a strong application potential is envisioned in topical fields such as environmental monitoring, cultural heritage preservation, and occupational health and safety.

Development of Flexible Moisture Sensors Based on the Corrosion and Degradation of Conductive Substrates

“…This means that the hydrogen bonding is interchanged from between PVA chains to PVA/GLY . CSP and sensors containing CSP (S3 and S4) exhibit less defined peaks at 3280 cm –1 , which may be attributed to weak hydrogen bonds, where residual water may exist . At 2935 cm –1 , the stretching of C–H bonds from the alkyl groups are observed in all five sensors, as well as PVA, GLY, and slightly in CSP.…”

A Portable Electrochemical Sensor Based on Manganese Porphyrin-Functionalized Carbon Cloth for Highly Sensitive Detection of Nitroaromatics and Gaseous Phenol

“…Their sensor demonstrated a higher sensitivity toward gaseous phenol and was also capable of differentiating between several phenolic compounds based on their oxidation potentials. 36 Zhao's group of researchers also reported a portable smart plant-wearable electrochemical biosensor for the in situ detection of methyl parathion on crop surfaces. By electrochemical determination, their sensor allowed for real-time analysis of methyl parathion.…”

“…Romih and colleagues reported a portable electrochemical gas sensor for phenol detection. Their sensor demonstrated a higher sensitivity toward gaseous phenol and was also capable of differentiating between several phenolic compounds based on their oxidation potentials . Zhao’s group of researchers also reported a portable smart plant-wearable electrochemical biosensor for the in situ detection of methyl parathion on crop surfaces.…”

Recent Developments in Plasmonic Sensors of Phenol and Its Derivatives

“…Recently, there have been a large number of scientific reviews promising not only therapeutic applications of phenolic acids [43,44], but also phenolic compound's effects on the environment and human health risk [25,45]. Furthermore, several authors have investigated varieties of analytical technologies using trace detection of phenolic sub-stances such as electrochemical [39,[46][47][48][49], liquid chromatography with diode array and mass spectrometry [50], high performance liquid chromatography [51,52], conductometric biosensor [53], photoelectrochemical reduction [54], voltammetric detection [55,56], biosensor electrode [57], and nanomaterial-based sensing [58]. However, these methodologies often require additional procedures for separation of analytes in sample preparation, leading to time-consuming and toxic organic solvents, as well as adverse effects on the environment.…”