Direct Electrochemical Detection of Geosmin Using Zn 2 Ti 3 O 8 Nanosheets Grown on Graphene Oxide

High Resolution Image Download MS PowerPoint Slide The direct electrochemical detection of geosmin, a pervasive odor-causing compound in water, poses a longstanding analytical challenge owing to its exceptionally high oxidation potential. Here, we introduce a groundbreaking sensing architecture that achieves unprecedented direct anodic oxidation of geosmin using ultrathin, defective Zn 2 Ti 3 O 8 spinel nanosheets synthesized via a simple graphene oxide (GO)-confined growth. This innovative confined approach unexpectedly stabilizes a defective Zn 2 Ti 3 O 8 phase in a two-dimensional (2D) morphology, enabling superior charge transport and robust electrode–solution interfacial interactions. Integrated onto a glassy carbon electrode (GCE), the resulting platform dramatically lowers the overpotential for geosmin oxidation, circumventing the intrinsic limitations of conventional electrochemical sensors. Under optimized voltammetric conditions, the sensor delivers a linear dynamic range of 0.36–3.6 μg mL –1, with limits of detection (LOD) and quantification (LOQ) of 0.08 and 0.27 μg mL –1, respectively. The device exhibits excellent reproducibility, satisfactory recovery in spiked samples, and robust tolerance to common interferents. Beyond superior analytical metrics, this novel material establishes a simplified electrochemical approach for direct electrochemical monitoring of odorants in aqueous matrices, opening promising avenues for the design of affordable, portable sensors for real-time water quality assessment in field settings.