Electroreduction of p-Nitrophenol by Surfactant Modified Electrodes

This paper mainly compares the electroreduction of p-nitrophenol by different surfactant-modified chemical electrodes. Four surfactants were prepared to modify the glassy carbon electrode, including a cationic surfactant (CTAB), an anionic surfactant (SDBS) and two nonionic surfactants (Tween 80, OP-10). Each modified electrode was applied to detect the p-nitrophenol in sodium acetate buffer solution, and the reduction peak current and reduction peak potential of p-nitrophenol were measured by linear sweep voltammetry under different concentrations of each surfactant. The results show that the cationic surfactant reduced the peak current, reaching the optimal effect at the concentration of 2.95 x10-4 mol/L; the anionic surfactant and nonionic surfactants reduced the peak current, and the reduction effect depends on the micelle effect of the surfactants and other factors; the cationic surfactant suppressed the reduction peak potential at concentrations of 0 similar to 2 x10-4 mol/L, while the other three surfactants cannot reduce the reduction peak potential; the CTAB was proved as the most sensitive material for detecting p-nitrophenol on electrode surface. This research provides a valuable reference for the design of p-nitrophenol sensors.