A new insight into electrochemical detection of eugenol by hierarchical sheaf-like mesoporous NiCo2O4

NiCo2O4 nanosheets with sheaf-like nanostructure morphologies have been synthesized by a facile one-step hydrothermal reaction followed by annealing treatment. Impressively, the NiCo2O4 nanosheets exhibit rapid detection of eugenol. The linear range of detection is from 1-500 mu M, and the limit of detection is 5.4 pM. The NiCo2O4 modified electrode demonstrated high sensitivity, good repeatability and reproducibility, and long-term stability (7% decrease in response over 30 days). Based on this work, an electrochemical reaction mechanism for eugenol oxidation was proposed, and in addition, the NiCo2O4 modified electrode was successfully employed for the analysis of eugenol in medicative balm samples. Recovery values for eugenol in medicative balm samples were in the range 98.7%-105.5%.