N-doped carbon nanotube frameworks modified electrode for the selective sensing of hydroquinone and catechol

Metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) of type ZIF-67 via simple heat- treatment process was employed to prepare N-doped carbon nanotube frameworks (NCNTFs). Whereafter, an electroanalysis method using NCNTFs as the modify material was constructed for selective sensing of hydroquinone (HQ) and catechol (CC). Both HQ and CC can be independently determined in mixed solutions. The anodic peak currents of HQ increase linearly in two concentration ranges, one from 0.8 to 100 and another from 100 to 200 μM. Also, the anodic peak currents for CC increase linearly in the concentration ranges of 0.8–40 μM and 40–120 μM. The detection limits are 0.17 μM and 0.12 μM for HQ and CC, respectively. The sensor was used to detect these two isomers in spiked lake water, and recoveries for HQ and CC are 91.6–95.0% and 95.3–105.0%, respectively. [Display omitted] •N-doped carbon nanotube frameworks (NCNTFs) can be obtained simply by heat- treatment with the precursor of ZIF-67.•NCNTFs/GCE exhibits excellent analytical performance in HQ and CC sensing.•NCNTFs/GCE has a broad application prospect in the determination of phenolic substances.