Advances in the application of nanomaterial-based sensors for detection of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in aquatic systems

Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) are ubiquitous environmental pollutants which are of health concern. It is therefore not surprising that there has been significant research interest in developing sensitive and cost effective strategies for monitoring these compounds. Here we provide an update on applications of various nanomaterials and nanocomposites in the detection and quantification of PAHs in water. Advances in synthesis and tailoring of functional nanomaterials has allowed for their use in fluorescence spectrophotometry, surface-enhanced Raman spectrometry (SERS), and in electrochemical based sensor systems for different analytical applications. This can be attributed to their extensive tunability. Finally, we discuss future prospects on the role of nanoscience in PAH analysis and highlight the need to move towards the development of portable devices based on these nanomaterials for field analysis. This review thus gives an overview of a number of alternative methods to chromatography based analysis of PAHs.