Controllable selenization strategy for in-situ construction of VCT MXene-based multiphase electrode materials for simultaneous detection of hydroquinone and catechol in drinking water and beverages.

Hydroquinone (HQ) and catechol (CC) are toxic isomers with similar structures that often coexist, leading to interference during detection. In this study, we employed a controllable selenization strategy to construct VCT MXene-based multiphase electrode materials (VSe@VO@VCT MXene) for the simultaneous detection of HQ and CC. Electrochemical tests revealed VSe@VO@VCT MXene modified electrode exhibited low electrochemical impedance, a large active surface area, and excellent electrocatalytic performance. The sensor demonstrated linear detection ranges for HQ and CC from 0.5 to 600 μM, with limits of detection 0.144 μM and 0.131 μM, respectively. Additionally, it exhibited excellent repeatability, reproducibility, selectivity, and stability. The practical applicability of the sensor was confirmed through testing in drinking water and beverages, showing satisfactory recovery rates. This work expands the application of VCT MXene in the field of electrochemical sensing and offers new insights for food safety monitoring.