Graphitic Carbon-Coated PtCoNi Alloys Supported on N-Doped Porous Carbon Nanoflakes for Sensitive Detection of Bisphenol A

As the raw material of polycarbonate and epoxy resins, bisphenol A (BPA) is widely employed in industrial production of commodities, such as plastic bottles and thermal paper. However, excessive amounts of BPA affect the immune system of the human body and damage the health. It is important to monitor BPA in environmental and industrial samples. Herein, a graphitic carbon-coated PtCoNi alloy supported on N-doped porous carbon nanoflakes (G-PtCoNi/N-PCFs) was successfully prepared by high-temperature pyrolysis. The characteristics (e.g., compositions and microstructure) of the G-PtCoNi/N-PCFs were characterized in detail, coupled by investigating the N-doping effect. Specifically, the well-dispersed PtCoNi alloy enhanced the catalytic activity, combined by inhibiting the poisoning effect of the species absorbed on the surface and improving the utilization of Pt with additional Co/Ni atoms. Moreover, the graphitic carbon shell further enhanced the catalytic stability of BPA. As a desirable electrode material, the G-PtCoNi/N-PCFs composite was applied for building an electrochemical sensor for the detection of BPA. Under optimal conditions, the resultant sensor exhibited outstanding catalytic activity and analytical performance with a wide linear range of 2.0–140.0 μM and a low limit of detection of 0.19 μM (S/N = 3), combined with the feasibility for detecting BPA in thermal paper and plastic bottles.