Ti3C2Tx/laser-induced graphene-based micro-droplet electrochemical sensing platform for rapid and sensitive detection of benomyl

The design and fabrication of high-performance electrode devices are highly important for the practical application of electrochemical sensors. In this study, flexible three-dimensional porous graphene electrode devices were first facilely fabricated using common laser ablation technique at room temperature. After then, hydrophilic two-dimensional MXene (Ti3C2Tx) nanosheet was decorated on the surface of the laser-induced graphene (LIG), resulting in disposable Ti3C2Tx/LIG electrode devices. After introducing Ti3C2Tx nanosheet, the electrochemical active area, electron transfer ability of LIG electrode device and its adsorption efficiency toward organic pesticide benomyl was significantly boosted. As a result, the fabricated Ti3C2Tx/LIG electrode device exhibited significantly enhanced electrocatalytic activity toward benomyl oxidation. Based on this, a novel and ultra-sensitive electrochemical platform for micro-droplet detection of benomyl was achieved in the range of 10 nM–6000 nM with detection sensitivity of 169.9 μA μM−1 cm−2 and detection limit of 5.8 nM. Considering the low-cost Ti3C2Tx/LIG electrode devices are rarely used for electrochemical analysis, we believed this research work will contribute to exploring the broader application of MXene/LIG electrode devices in the field of electrochemical sensing. [Display omitted] •Disposable and low-cost Ti3C2Tx/LIG-based electrode devices were facilely prepared.•Hydrophilic Ti3C2Tx nanosheets and LIG displayed obvious synergistic effect.•Ti3C2Tx/LIG-based electrode devices exhibited superior electro-activity toward benomyl oxidation.•Rapid and sensitive detection of benomyl can be finished in a micro-droplet.