AC voltammetric transductions and sensor application of a novel dendritic poly(propylene thiophenoimine)-co-poly(3-hexylthiophene) star co-polymer

•Highly sensitive novel dendritic star-copolymer was synthesized on gold electrode.•The catalytic properties of the Au-star polymer electrode were studied using alternating current voltammetry (ACV).•The electroactive dendritic star copolymer was applied as a sensor platform PHE determination.•The ACV-based sensor was very sensitive for PHE determination.•The PHE sensor was suitable for application in oil-polluted wastewater. The contamination of surface and underground water by polyaromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), such as phenanthrene, presents significant latent risk to humans and the ecosystem through the food chain. One of the sources of PAH pollution is the activities of the oil industry. A novel dendritic star-copolymer sensor system (Au|G3PPT-co-P3HT) for the determination of phenanthrene (PHE) in oil-polluted wastewater was prepared by in situ electrochemical co-polymerization of generation 3 poly(propylene thiophenoimine) (G3PPT) and poly(3-hexylthiophene) (P3TH) on a gold electrode. Electrochemical characterization and sensor application of the Au|G3PPT-co-P3HT electrode were performed by alternating current voltammetry (ACV), in a supporting electrolyte of 0.1M Bu4NClO4 in acetonitrile. The sensor parameters include a dynamic linear range (DLR) of application values of 2.78–37.65nM and a limit of detection (LOD) of 1.42nM (0.253ppb). The WHO guideline value for PAHs is 0.7ppb, which falls within the DLR of the dendrimeric sensor for PHE. The Au|G3PPT-co-P3HT was sensitive to PHE determination in oil-polluted wastewater.