A novel electrochemical sensor based on ꞵ-cyclodextrin/bismuth oxybromide/multi-walled carbon nanotubes modified electrode with in situ addition of tetrabutylammonium bromide for the simultaneous detection and degradation of tebuconazole

Abstract

A novel electrochemical sensor–based glassy carbon electrode (GCE) was fabricated and applied to simultaneous detection and degradation of tebuconazole (TBZ) for the first time. The GCE was consecutively modified by multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs), bismuth oxybromide (BiOBr), ꞵ-cyclodextrin (ꞵ-CD), and in situ addition of tetrabutylammonium bromide (TBABr). The detection was based on the decreasing of Bi signal at its anodic potential (E_pa) of 0.05 V. Under the optimum conditions, the modified electrode exhibited a linear response to TBZ in the concentration range 1–100 μg L⁻¹ with a detection limit of 0.9 μg L⁻¹. TBZ was firstly adsorbed on the surface of the modified electrode through host–guest molecule interactions of the ꞵ-CD. The adsorption was further enhanced by the large surface area of BiOBr and MWCNTs. The adsorbed TBZ on the electrode surface hindered the electron transfer of Bi, thus decreasing the oxidation of Bi. In addition, the in situ addition of tetrabutylammonium bromide (TBABr) enriched TBZ via electrostatic interactions, increasing its detection sensitivity. The fabricated electrochemical sensor was applied to determine TBZ in water and soil samples from rice fields with recoveries of 80.5–100.5% and 87.6–112%, respectively. Furthermore, the degradation of TBZ on the modified electrode was studied under a solar light simulator. The degradation percentage (100%) of TBZ (50 µg L⁻¹) was achieved in 5 min owing to the excellent photocatalytic properties of BiOBr.

Graphical abstract