Fabrication and evaluation of a sensitive electrochemical sensor based on double hydroxide in nickel–aluminum nanolayers for the quantification of pyrocatechol

Abstract

Pyrocatechol, also known as catechol, is a commonly used compound in various industries; however, it can be toxic when used in high concentrations. Therefore, developing a highly sensitive electrochemical sensor for detecting pyrocatechol is important. Our study utilized a co-precipitation technique to fabricate a nanostructured nickel aluminum layered double hydroxide (Ni–Al-LDH). This material was thoroughly analyzed using advanced techniques to confirm its functionality, crystallinity, and morphology. Subsequently, Ni–Al-LDH was employed as an electrocatalyst for the detection of pyrocatechol in actual samples. The modified electrode showed significant responsiveness to pyrocatechol under specific conditions, with a detection limit of 1 nM. This sensor demonstrated analytical potential for the sensitive determination of pyrocatechol across a range of real samples.