Electrochemical Sensing Platforms of Dihydroxybenzene: Part 1 – Carbon Nanotubes, Graphene, and their Derivatives

Dihydroxybenzene is regarded as a serious environmental pollutant. Its detection through electrochemical methods is still challenging due to having a similar structure and overlapping signals with the conventional bare electrode. Thanks to the unique features and wide applicability of carbon nanotubes, graphene, and their derivatives, they can be used as modifiers to overcome the poor resolution ability of bare electrodes in the detection of dihydroxybenzene. This review focuses on the use of carbon nanotubes, graphene, and their derivatives and nanocomposites to enhance the electrocatalytic activity of conventional bare electrodes for dihydroxybenzene sensing. The reports from 2011–2020 on the simultaneous and/or individual detection of three different dihydroxybenzenes – hydroquinone, catechol, and resorcinol – are summarized. This review also highlights the challenges and prospects surrounding the sensitive and selective detection of dihydroxybenzene.