Molybdenum disulfide-grafted carbon nanotubes for the electrochemical detection of acetaminophen with ultra-sensitivity

Abstract

The overuse of acetaminophen (APAP) poses significant health risks to human health, which necessitates the development of an efficient and rapid detection method for APAP. Hence, an electrochemical sensor using molybdenum disulfide-grafted carbon nanotubes (MoS₂/CNTs) was developed for the ultra-sensitive detection of acetaminophen (APAP). The linear detection range of the sensor was 0.07 to 150 µM, and the limit of detection for APAP was 0.43 µM. The MoS₂/CNTs composite demonstrated significantly enhanced catalytic activity toward APAP, attributed to its enormous specific surface area and effective electron transport characteristics. Electrochemical techniques, including impedance spectroscopy (EIS), cyclic voltammetry (CV), and differential pulse voltammetry (DPV), were further performed to assess the functionality of the sensor. Furthermore, the sensor exhibited high selectivity and excellent stability and reproducibility. Additionally, it was demonstrated to be effective for APAP detection across a range of authentic samples, including commercial tablets, tap water, and urine. The MoS₂/CNTs electrochemical sensor offers a sensitive, cost-effective solution for drug and biological small-molecule detection in environmental and medical fields.