MgAl-layered double hydroxide flower arrays grown on carbon paper for efficient electrochemical sensing of nitrite.

In this work, MgAl-layered double hydroxide nanosheets arrays in-situ grown on commercial carbon paper (MA-LDH/CP) have been successfully fabricated via a facile one-pot hydrothermal method, which shows a hierarchical flower-like structure. The as-prepared MA-LDH/CP is used as a free-standing electrode for electrochemical detection of nitrite in aqueous media, showing high sensitivity with a low detection limit of 0.03 μM, and good anti-interference to other species. Moreover, it exhibits outstanding electrochemical stability without any deactivation in almost two months. The superior performance of MA-LDH/CP for nitrite determination is attributed to the 3D hierarchical architecture of MA-LDH nanolayers and a large number of exposed surface sites, which facilitate the electron transfer and nitrite adsorption. Flower-like MgAl-layered double hydroxide nanosheets arrays grown on carbon paper have been successfully fabricated and used as high-performance free-standing electrode for electrochemical nitrite detection with high sensitivity, selectivity, and stability. Image 1 • MgAl-layered double hydroxide nanosheets arrays on carbon paper (MA-LDH/CP) is prepared via a facile hydrothermal method. • MA-LDH/CP serves as a free-standing electrochemical sensor for nitrite detection. • High sensitivity, stability, and anti-interference to other species toward nitrite sensing are achieved. • 3D hierarchical architecture of MA-LDH enhances electrochemical active area, electron transfer, and nitrite adsorption. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]