Fabrication of hierarchical Ru/PEDOT:PSS/Ti3C2Tx nanocomposites as electrochemical sensing platforms for highly sensitive Sudan I detection in food

Abstract

In our paper, a promising electrochemical sensing platform was fabricated with titanium carbide (Ti₃C₂T_x), poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene):poly(styrenesulfonate) (PEDOT:PSS), and ruthenium nanoparticles (RuNPs). First, the Shandong pancake structural PEDOT:PSS/Ti₃C₂T_x was prepared by physical stirring. PEDOT:PSS as the dispersant was embedded into the Ti₃C₂T_x nanosheets, increasing the degree of dispersion of the Ti₃C₂T_x nanosheets and further improving the specific surface area of the composite material. Then, RuNPs were supported on the surface of PEDOT:PSS/Ti₃C₂T_x to form the hierarchical ternary nanocomposite of Ru/PEDOT:PSS/Ti₃C₂T_x. The prepared Ru/PEDOT:PSS/Ti₃C₂T_x nanocomposite exhibited promising electrochemical sensing properties toward Sudan I detection with a wide detection range of 0.01 ∼ 100 μM and a high sensitivity of 482.43 μA mM^-1 cm^-2. Moreover, the Ru/PEDOT:PSS/Ti₃C₂T_x sensing platform has been successfully applied for Sudan I detection in ketchup and chili paste, implying the promising application prospect of Ru/PEDOT:PSS/Ti₃C₂T_x in food safety testing.

Keywords: PEDOT:PSS; Ru nanoparticles; Sensor; Sudan І; Ti(3)C(2)T(x) MXenes.