Study on the detection of hydroquinone using graphene and Zn/Al layered double hydroxide composite

Abstract

A graphene-Zn/Al layered double hydroxide composite film was simultaneously prepared by electrochemical deposition on the surface of a glassy carbon electrode (G-LDH/GCE) from the mixture solution containing GO and nitrate salts of Zn2+ and Al3+. The modified electrode showed good electrochemical performances toward the simultaneous electrochemical detection of hydroquinone(HQ), catechol(CA) and resorcinol(RE) due to the unique properties of graphene(G) and LDH such as large active surface area, facile electronic transport and high electrocatalytic activity. The redox characteristics of G-LDH/GCE were investigated with cyclic voltammetry and differential pulse voltammetry. The well-separated oxidation peak potentials, corresponding to the oxidation of HQ, CA and RE, were observed at 0.126 V, 0.228 V and 0.620 V respectively. The amperometric response of the modified electrode exhibited that HQ can be detected without interference of CA and RE. Under the optimized conditions, the oxidation peak current of HQ is linear with the concentration of HQ from 6.0 μM to 325.0 μM with the detection limit of 0.077μM (S/N=3). The modified electrode was successfully applied to the direct determination of HQ in a local tap water, showing reliable recovery data.