Optical detection of herbicides in water using dye-modified single walled carbon nanotubes [2]

Abstract

Hybrid materials were produced by mixing CuPcR<inf>4</inf> with acidified single-walled carbon nanotubes (SWCNTs) and characterised by UV-Vis absorption spectroscopy, scanning electron microscopy and atomic force microscopy. Thin films of pristine CuPcR<inf>4</inf> and SWCNT/CuPcR<inf>4</inf> were prepared by spin coating onto gold-coated glass slides and applied as active layers to detect pentachlorophenol (PCP), 2-chlorophenol, diuron and simazine in water utilizing Total Internal Reflection Ellipsometry (TIRE) as an optical detection method. Different concentrations in water ranging from 0.5 to 20 ?g/L have been examined in the current work. It is revealed that the shifts in ?(?) spectra of SWCNT/CuPcR4 films were evidently larger than those produced by the pristine CuPcR4 films, indicating largely improved films' sensitivity of the hybrid films. © 2016 Elsevier B.V., All rights reserved.