An Enhanced Photosensitive Sensor Based on ITO/MWCNTs@Polymer Composite@BiVO₄ for Quercetin Detection

Area of Science:

• Materials Science
• Electrochemistry
• Analytical Chemistry

Background:

• Antioxidants combat free radicals, but synthetic forms pose cancer risks, necessitating natural sources.
• Quercetin is a beneficial natural antioxidant found in various food sources.
• Developing sensitive and selective methods for quercetin detection is crucial for health and food analysis.

Purpose of the Study:

• To fabricate a novel photosensitive sensor for accurate quercetin detection.
• To utilize multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs), a polymer composite (PC), and BiVO4 for sensor construction.
• To evaluate the sensor's performance characteristics and applicability to real-world samples.

Main Methods:

• Fabrication of a photosensitive ITO/MWCNTs@PC@BiVO4 electrode.
• Electrochemical analysis of quercetin in phosphate buffered saline (PBS) solutions.
• Testing sensor selectivity, reproducibility, stability, and application in black tea samples.

Main Results:

• The sensor exhibited a wide linear response range (10-200 μM) with a low limit of detection (0.133 μM).
• Achieved high sensitivity (442 µA mM⁻¹ cm⁻²), good reproducibility (RSD 3.6%), high selectivity, and long-term stability (>49 days).
• Successfully detected quercetin in a real-life sample (black tea).

Conclusions:

• The developed photosensitive ITO/MWCNTs@PC@BiVO4 sensor is effective for sensitive and selective quercetin detection.
• This sensor platform shows promise for developing advanced photosensitive polymer composite polyphenol sensors.
• The study highlights the potential of natural antioxidants and advanced sensor technology for health and food safety applications.