Conducting dyes as electro-active monomers and polymers for detecting analytes in biological and environmental samples

Currently, electrochemical sensors are regarded as an efficient tool for the biological and environmental sensing. Electrochemical sensors, such as voltammetric, amperometric, and impedimetric sensors, have gained great attention due to their simplicity, sensitivity, and selectivity. The performance of these electrochemical sensors could be enhanced by surface engineered nano/micro structured materials with conducting dyes/redox species. In this review, a great focus has been put on the redox-active dyes because of their electronic, optical, electrochromic, and conductivity properties. The mechanisms of oxidation and subsequent polymerization of different redox-active dyes at the surface of electrodes have been studied. Additionally, their role in catalyzing the oxidation or reduction of the target analytes at the surfaces of electrodes has also been highlighted. The redox-active dyes were used as electrochemical probes for detecting various analytes in biological and environmental samples. Overall, redox-active dyes are considered promising conducting polymers for the assessment of many analytes such as drugs, pesticides, surfactants, and heavy metal ions.