Electrochemical Performance of Polyaniline-Polyvanadate-Copper Nanomaterials for the Detection of Benzoic Acid

The introduction of nanomaterials as modified electrode materials into the field of electrochemical sensing is expected to improve the reliability, sensitivity, selectivity and repeatability of electrochemical sensors in detecting pollutants in the water environment. In this study, copper vanadate nanomaterials (Cu₃V₂O₇(OH)₂·2H₂O, referred to as CVO) and Cu₃V₂O₇(OH)₂·2H₂O/polyyaniline (PANI) composite nanomaterials (referred to as CVO/PANI) are successfully prepared and characterized by Fourier transform infrared spectrum (FTIR), X-ray traveling-action (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and high-resolution transmission electron microscopy (HR-TEM). The modified glassy carbon electrodes (GCE) with these two materials are used for the detection of benzoic acid (BA) and exhibit excellent electrochemical sensing performance. The results show that two pairs of semi-reversible redox peaks exist in both CVO and CVO/PANI modified glassy carbon electrode (GCE) in BA solution. The linear range of CVO and CVO/PANI nanomaterials-modified GCE is 0.01–2 mm and 0.001–2 mm, and the limits of detection are 2.16 and 0.41 µm, respectively. PANI plays important role in the electrochemical responses of BA at CVO/PANI modified GCE. PANI enhances the intensities of CV peaks and electrochemical determination ability for BA.