Pioneering detection with europium niobate-anchored carbon nanofibers for simultaneous detection of phenolic pollutants in environmental waters

Human health and socio-economic well-being are closely tied to water quality. <i>para</i>-Phenolic compounds like 4-nitrophenol (4-NP) and 4-(methylamino)phenol sulfate (4-AP), widely used in pesticides, dyes, and films, are major water pollutants. Their effective detection is vital, calling for a rapid, cost-effective, sensitive, portable, and selective multiplex sensing device. With advancements in nanotechnology, nanocomposites are emerging as prototypical modifier components for enhancing electrochemical detection mechanisms, enabling the fabrication of a disposable sensor using a europium niobate/functionalized carbon nanofiber (ENO/f-CNF) composite as an effective electrode modifier for simultaneous detection. The ENO/f-CNF nanocomposite formed a hybrid heterojunction, boosting electrochemical signal transmission. The hierarchical arrangement of individual constituents in a nanocomposite benefits through a synergistic effect and quantum confinement that synchronously activate the simultaneous detection with a LOD of 0.002 μM and 0.029 μM for 4-NP and 4-AP, respectively. The as-prepared sensor has a wide linear range (0.1-913.6 μM and 0.01-91.36 μM), high sensitivity, good selectivity, and stability. The application of this sensor is extended to a water sample to monitor the consistency of the proposed sensor.