Organoclay-modified electrodes: preparation, characterization and recent electroanalytical applications.

Amperometric sensors dedicated to the determination of pollutants and other compounds of interest face daily a great challenge: the development of sensitive, reproducible and low-cost devices allowing fast analyses. This review deals with the beneficial role and application of organoclays exploited as sensing materials in various fields of electroanalysis, for the past 15 years (period 2000-2014). After a description of different preparation methods leading to clay minerals chemically modified by organic compounds, the common methods used for their characterization are exposed; then, their application as electrode modifiers is described, covering several approaches that were developed to enhance either the sensitivity or the selectivity of the indexed organoclay-based sensors. Finally, a brief description of voltammetric methods frequently used for electroanalytical purposes is given, followed by an update of recent and salient results achieved for the detection of inorganic and organic electroactive compounds or ions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]