Abstract
In this work, cyclic voltammetry (CV) and differential-pulsed voltammetry (DPV) were used to detect pentachlorophenol (PCP)
at two types of multi-walled carbon nanotubes (CNT)-based composite electrode, i.e., TiO2-modified-CNT-Epoxy (TiO2-CNTEpoxy)
and CNT-Epoxy in 0.1 M sodium sulphate solution supporting electrolyte. The electrochemical behaviour of the
electrodes was investigated in the absence and presence of UV irradiation. A single oxidation peak at a potential value of about
+1 V versus SCE with the characteristics of an irreversible reaction was noticed for PCP electrooxidation. The linear dependence
of current versus PCP concentrations was reached in a wide concentration range from 10 to 100 μM PCP. A series of
optimization studies were performed on the pulsed voltammetric parameters. The best electroanalytical performance for PCP
detection was obtained in the case of TiO2-CNT-Epoxy electrode under UV irradiation, which informed about the its
photoelectrocatalytic activity towards PCP oxidation.