Electrochemical performance of TiO 2 /Au/carbon nanotubes composite interface for hydroquinone detection

A novel nanocomposite was prepared by direct mixing of titania nanoparticles (nano‐TiO 2 ) and gold nanoparticles (nano‐Au)‐modified carbon nanotubes (CNTs) in a solution of chitosan. The electrochemical performance of a TiO 2 /Au/CNT nanocomposite‐modified electrode for hydroquinone detection was investigated. When measured at a scan rate of 50 mV s − 1 , the detected amount of hydroquinone at the TiO 2 /Au/CNT electrode varied linearly with hydroquinone concentration, for concentrations from 1 × 10 − 6 to 1 × 10 − 8 M; the sensitivity was 997 617 μA(mol l − 1 ) − 1 , and the detection limit was 1 × 10 − 10 M ( S/N = 3). In all experiments, TiO 2 /Au/CNT nanocomposites exhibited better electrochemical performance than TiO 2 /CNT composites or CNTs. Enhanced current response can be attributed to the synergic effect of nano‐TiO 2 , nano‐Au and CNTs.