β-Cyclodextrin non-covalently functionalized single-walled carbon nanotubes bridged by 3,4,9,10-perylene tetracarboxylic acid for ultrasensitive electrochemical sensing of 9-anthracenecarboxylic acid.

We report a simple and facile approach for the synthesis of β-cyclodextrin non-covalently functionalized single-walled carbon nanotubes bridged by 3,4,9,10-perylene tetracarboxylic acid (β-CD-PTCA-SWCNTs). Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, transmission electron microscopy, thermogravimetric analysis, Raman spectroscopy and electrochemical methods were used to characterize the as-prepared functionalized SWCNTs. Furthermore, the β-CD-PTCA-SWCNTs were applied successfully to detect 9-anthracenecarboxylic acid (9-ACA, one derivative of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons) by electrochemical methods. The results show that the oxidation peak current of 9-ACA on β-CD-PTCA-SWCNTs modified glassy carbon (GC) electrode is 4.0 and 31.2 times higher than that at the SWCNTs/GC and bare GC electrodes, respectively. The proposed modified electrode has a linear response range of 2.00 to 140.00 nM with a detection limit of 0.65 nM (S/N = 3) towards 9-ACA, which is due to the synergic effects of the SWCNTs (e.g. their good electrochemical properties and large surface area) and β-CD (e.g. a hydrophilic external surface and a high supramolecular recognition and enrichment capability).