Electrocatalytic oxidation of hydrazine at a glassy carbon electrode modified with nickel ferrite and multi-walled carbon nanotubes

A hydrothermal technique was used to synthesize nickel ferrite nanoparticles (NF-NPs) deposited on multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs). The material was characterized by scanning electron microscopy, energy dispersive spectrometry, and X-ray powder diffraction which showed that the NF-NPs are located on the surface of the carboxylated MWCNTs. The material was used to modify a glassy carbon electrode which then was characterized via cyclic voltammetry, electrochemical impedance spectroscopy, and amperometry. The electrode displays strong electrochemical response to hydrazine. A potential hydrazine sensing scheme is suggested.

Nonenzymatic sensor for glucose based on a glassy carbon electrode modified with Ni(OH)2 nanoparticles grown on a film of molybdenum sulfide

A glassy carbon electrode (GCE) was modified with nickel(II) hydroxide nanoparticles and a film of molybdenum sulfide. The nanocomposite was prepared by two-step electrodeposition. Scanning electron microscopy reveals that the nanoparticles are uniformly deposited on the film. Cyclic voltammetry and chronoamperometry indicate that this modified GCE displays a remarkable electrocatalytic activity towards nonenzymatic oxidation of glucose. Response is linear in the 10–1,300 μM concentration range (R ² ?=?0.9987), the detection limit is very low (5.8 μM), response is rapid (< 2 s), and selectivity over ascorbic acid, dopamine, uric acid, fructose and galactose is very good.

A glassy carbon electrode modified with a polyaniline doped with silicotungstic acid and carbon nanotubes for the sensitive amperometric determination of ascorbic acid

We report on an electrochemical sensor for the sensitive amperometric determination of ascorbic acid (AA). Aniline containing suspended silicotungstic acid and carbon nanotubes was electropolymerized on the surface of a glassy carbon electrode in a single step which provides a simple and controllable method and greatly improves the electrocatalytic oxidation of AA. The effects of scan rate, solution pH and working potential were studied. A linear relationship exists between the current measured and the concentration of AA in the range from 1 μM to 10 μM and 0.01 mM to 9 mM, with a limit of detection as low as 0.51 μM (S/N?=?3). The sensor is selective, stable and satisfyingly reliable in real sample experiments. In our eyes, it has a large potential for practical applications.

A novel non-enzyme hydrogen peroxide sensor based on an electrode modified with carbon nanotube-wired CuO nanoflowers

We have prepared a novel sensor for hydrogen peroxide that is based on a glassy carbon electrode modified with a film containing multi-walled carbon nanotubes wired to CuO nanoflowers. The nanoflowers were characterized by X-ray powder diffraction, and the electrode was characterized by cyclic voltammetry (CV) and scanning electron microscopy. The response of the modified electrode towards hydrogen peroxide was investigated by CV and chronoamperometry and showed it to exhibit high electrocatalytic activity, with a linear range from 0.5?μM to 82?μM and a detection limit of 0.16?μM. The sensor also displays excellent selectivity and stability.

A lead(II) sensor based on a glassy carbon electrode modified with Fe3O4 nanospheres and carbon nanotubes

We have developed a highly sensitive and selective sensor for lead(II) ions. A glassy carbon electrode was modified with Fe₃O₄ nanospheres and multi-walled carbon nanotubes, and this material was characterized by scanning electron microscopy and X-ray diffraction. The electrode displays good electrochemical activity toward Pb(II) and gives anodic and cathodic peaks with potentials at ?496 mV and ?638 mV (vs. Ag/AgCl) in pH?6.0 solution. The sensor exhibits a sensitive and fairly selective response to Pb(II) ion, with a linear range between 20 pM and 1.6 nM, and a detection limit as low as 6.0 pM (at a signal-to noise ratio of 3). The sensor was successfully applied to monitor Pb(II) in spiked water samples.

A uric acid sensor based on electrodeposition of nickel hexacyanoferrate nanoparticles on an electrode modified with multi-walled carbon nanotubes

An electrode sensitive to uric acid was prepared by electrodeposition of nickel(II) hexacyanoferrate(III) on the surface of a glassy carbon electrode modified with multi-walled carbon nanotubes. The morphology of the material was characterized by scanning electron microscopy and Fourier transform infrared spectrometry. The modified electrode were characterized via cyclic voltammetry and amperometry (i - t). It exhibited efficient electron transfer ability and a strong and fast (< 3?s) response towards uric acid which is linear in the range from 0.1???M to 18???M, with a lower detection limit of 50 nM (at an S/N ratio of 3). In addition, the electrode exhibited good reproducibility and long-term stability.

Amperometric nonenzymatic determination of glucose based on a glassy carbon electrode modified with nickel(II) oxides and graphene

We have developed a stable and sensitive nonenzymatic glucose sensor by modifying a glassy carbon electrode (GCE) with a composite incorporating nickel(II) oxides and reduced graphene. The oxides were generated by directly electrodepositing nickel on the GCE with a graphene modifier using a multi-potential pulse process, and then oxidizing nickel to nickel(II) oxides by potential cycling. In comparison to the conventional nickel(II) oxides-modified GCE, this new nickel(II) oxides-graphene modified GCE (NiO-GR/GCE) has an about 1.5 times larger current response toward the nonenzymatic oxidation of glucose in alkaline media. The response to glucose is linear in the 20 μM to 4.5 mM concentration range. The limit of detection is 5 μM (at a S/N of 3), and the response time is very short (<3 s). Other beneficial features include selectivity, reproducibility and stability. A comparison was performed on the determination of glucose in commercial red wines by high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) and revealed the promising aspects of this sensor with respect to the determination of glucose in real samples.

Electrochemical behavior and voltammetric determination of L-tryptophan and L-tyrosine using a glassy carbon electrode modified with single-walled carbon nanohorns

We report a simple method for the direct and quantitative determination of L-tryptophan (Trp) and L-tyrosine (Tyr) using a glassy carbon electrode (GCE) modified with single-walled carbon nanohorns (SWCNHs). The SWCNH modified GCE exhibits high electrocatalytic activity towards the oxidation of both Trp and Tyr. It shows a linear response to Trp between 0.5 and 50 μM and to Tyr between 2 and 30 μM. The detection limits for Trp and Tyr are 50 nM and 400 nM, respectively. In addition, the modified GCE displays good selectivity and good sensitivity, thus making it suitable for the determination of Trp and Tyr in spiked serum samples.

Voltammetric study on pristine and nitrogen-doped multi-walled carbon nanotubes decorated with gold nanoparticles

Films consisting of pristine multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) and nitrogen-doped MWCNTs (N-MWCNTs) were fabricated by means of chemical vapor deposition and chemically decorated with gold nanoparticles (AuNPs). Optical microscopy and image analysis reveal that the deposited AuNPs have diameters of 50–200 nm and 100–400 nm, respectively. The AuNP-modified films of MWCNTs and of N-MWCNTs were initially investigated with respect to their response to the ferro/ferricyanide redox system. The N-MWCNTs/AuNPs exhibit lower detection limit (0.345 μM) for this redox system compared to that of MWCNTs/AuNPs (0.902 μM). This is probably due to the presence of nitrogen that appears to enhance the electrocatalytic activity of MWCNTs. The findings demonstrate that the electrochemical responses of both films are distinctly enhanced upon deposition of AuNPs on their surfaces. The detection limits of MWCNTs/AuNPs and N-MWCNTs/AuNPs systems are lower by about 43 % and 27 %, respectively, compared to films not modified with AuNPs. The electrocatalytic activity of the films towards the oxidation of ascorbic acid (AA), uric acid (UA), and dopamine (DA) was studied. The findings reveal that N-MWCNTs/AuNPs represent a powerful analytical tool that enables simultaneous analysis of AA, UA, and DA in a single experiment.

Electrodeposition of cobalt oxide nanoparticles on carbon nanotubes, and their electrocatalytic properties for nitrite electrooxidation

We describe a modified glassy carbon electrode (GCE) for the sensitive determination of nitrite in waste water samples. The GCE was modified by electrodeposition of cobalt oxide nanoparticles on multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) deposited on a conventional GCE. Scanning electron microscopy and electrochemical techniques were used for the characterization of the composite material which is very uniform and forms a kind of nanoporous structure. Electrochemical experiments showed that the modified electrode exhibited excellent electrocatalytic properties for nitrite. Amperometry revealed a good linear relationship between peak current and nitrate concentration in the 0.5 to 250???M range with a detection limit of 0.3???M (S/N?=?3). The method has been applied to the amperometric detection of nitrite. The modified electrode displays good storage stability, reproducibility, and selectivity for a promising practical application.

Amperometric sensor for ascorbic acid based on a glassy carbon electrode modified with gold-silver bimetallic nanotubes in a chitosan matrix

We report on an amperometric sensor for ascorbic acid (AA) that is based on highly dense gold-silver nanotubes in a chitosan film on a glassy carbon electrode. The nanotubes were synthesized by a poly(vinyl pyrrolidone)-mediated polyol method employing a replacement reaction with silver nanowires as templates, and were characterized by scanning electron microscopy, energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy, and X-ray diffraction. Under the optimal conditions, the sensor exhibits good electrocatalytic activity towards the oxidation of AA, and this enables the determination of AA in the 5 μM to 2 mM concentration range, with a detection limit at 2 μM (at an S/N of 3). The response time is 2 s. The sensor displays good reproducibility, selectivity, sensitivity, and long-term stability.

Direct electron transfer of glucose oxidase promoted by carbon nanotubes is without value in certain mediator-free applications

We have investigated the direct electron transfer (DET) promoted by carbon nanotubes (CNTs) on an electrode containing immobilized glucose oxidase (GOx) with the aim to develop a third-generation glucose biosensor and a mediator-free glucose biofuel cell anode. GOx was immobilized via chitosan (CS) on a glassy carbon electrode (GCE) modified with multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs). Cyclic voltammetric revealed that the GOx on the surface of such an electrode is unable to simultaneously demonstrate DET with the electrode and to retain its catalytic activity towards glucose, although the MWCNTs alone can promote electron transfer between GOx and electrode. This is interpreted in terms of two types of GOx on the surface, the distribution and properties of which are quite different. The first type exhibits DET capability that results from the collaboration of MWCNTs and metal impurities, but is unable to catalyze the oxidation of glucose. The second type maintains its glucose-specific catalytic capability in the presence of a mediator, which can be enhanced by MWCNTs, but cannot undergo DET with the electrode. As a result, the MWCNTs are capable of promoting the electron transfer, but this is without value in some mediator-free applications such as in third-generation glucose biosensors and in mediator-free anodes for glucose biofuel cells.

Chronocoulometric DNA biosensor based on a glassy carbon electrode modified with gold nanoparticles, poly(dopamine) and carbon nanotubes

We describe a sensitive chronocoulometric biosensor for the sequence-specific detection of DNA. It is based on a glassy carbon electrode modified with multi-walled carbon nanotubes, polydopamine, and gold nanoparticles. The ruthenium(III)hexammine complex acts as the electrochemical indicator. Electrochemical impedance spectra and scanning electron microscopy are employed to investigate the assembly of the electrode surface. The signals of the ruthenium complex electrostatically bound to the anionic phospho groups of the DNA strands are measured by chronocoulometry before and after hybridization. The difference in signal intensity is linearly related to the logarithm of the concentration of the target DNA in the range of 1.0 nM to 10 fM with a detection limit of 3.5fM (S/N?=?3) under optimal conditions. This biosensor exhibits excellent sensitivity and selectivity and has been used for an assay of complementary target DNA in human serum sample with satisfactory results.

A glassy carbon electrode modified with antimony and poly(p-aminobenzene sulfonic acid) for sensing lead(II) by square wave anodic stripping voltammetry

We have developed a sensor for the square wave anodic stripping voltammetric determination of Pb(II). A glassy carbon electrode was modified with a thin film of an antimony/poly(p-aminobenzene sulfonic acid) composite in air-saturated aqueous solution of pH 2.0. Compared to a conventional antimony film electrode, the new one yields a larger stripping signal for Pb(II). The conditions of polymerization, the concentration of Sb(III), the pH value of the sample solution, the deposition potential and time, frequency, potential amplitude, and step increment potential were optimized. Under the optimum conditions, a linear response was observed for Pb(II) in the range of 0.5 to 150.0 μg?L^?1. The detection limit for Pb(II) is 0.1 μg?L^?1.

Studies on the electrochemistry of rutin and its interaction with bovine serum albumin using a glassy carbon electrode modified with carbon-coated nickel nanoparticles

We report on a glassy carbon electrode modified with carbon-coated nickel nanoparticles (C-Ni/GCE) that can be used to study the electrochemical properties of rutin and its interaction with bovine serum albumin (BSA) via cyclic voltammetry and differential pulse voltammetry. The effects of pH value, accumulation potential, accumulation time and reaction time were optimized. A pair of reversible peaks is found in the potential range of 0 to around 0.6 V at pH?5.0. Two linear response ranges (with different slopes) are found, one in the 2 to 210 nM concentration range, the other between 0.21 and 1.72 μM. The detection limit is as low as 0.6 nM. On addition of BSA to the rutin solution, a decrease of the current is observed that is proportional to the concentration of BSA. The binding constant and stoichiometric ratio were calculated.

Square wave anodic stripping voltammetric determination of lead(II) using a glassy carbon electrode modified with a lead ionophore and multiwalled carbon nanotubes

We report on a glassy carbon electrode (GCE) modified with a lead ionophore and multiwalled carbon nanotubes. It can be applied to square wave anodic stripping voltammetric determination of Pb(II) ion after preconcentration of Pb(II) at ?1.0?V (vs. SCE) for 300?s in pH?4.5 acetate buffer containing 400?μg?L^?1 of Bi(III). The ionophore-MWCNTs film on the GCE possesses strong and highly selective affinity for Pb(II) as confirmed by quartz crystal microbalance experiments. Under the optimum conditions, a linear response was observed for Pb(II) ion in the range from 0.3 to 50?μg?L^?1. The limit of detection (at S/N?=?3) is 0.1?μg?L^?1. The method was applied to the determination of Pb(II) in water samples with acceptable recovery.

A sensitive sensor for determination of l-tryptophan based on gold nanoparticles/poly(alizarin red S)-modified glassy carbon electrode

This work described a novel sensor for detection of l -tryptophan (Trp) by electrodeposition of gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) onto the poly(alizarin red S) film pre-cast on a glassy carbon electrode (GCE). Alizarin red S (ARS) was deposited on the surface of the GCE by electropolymerization, and gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) were attached onto the poly(ARS) film by electrodeposition, forming an AuNPs–PARS nanocomposite film-modified GCE (AuNPs–PARS/GCE). Then electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) were used to characterize modified electrodes. The Nyquist diagrams of EIS indicated that the PARS film and AuNPs were successfully immobilized on the surface of GCE, and the electron transfer resistance value of electrode changed efficiently. The SEM image showed that the immobilized AuNPs were spherical in shape. The AuNPs–PARS/GEC displayed excellent amperometric response for Trp. The amperometric responses have two linear ranges from 0.02 to 0.5 μM and 0.5 to 20.0 μM, with sensitivities of 1.63(±0.08) and 0.21(±0.01)?μAμM^?1, respectively. Its detection limit was 6.7 nM at a signal-to-noise ratio of 3. The proposed method was applied to determine Trp.

Detection of lead(II) using an glassy carbon electrode modified with Nafion, carbon nanotubes and benzo-18-crown-6

A glassy carbon electrode was modified with Nafion, carbon nanotubes and benzo-18-crown-6 to give an electrode for the selective determination of lead(II) via square wave anodic stripping voltammetry. The use of carbon nanotubes with their extraordinary electrical conductivity and strong adsorption ability warrants high sensitivity. Benzo-18-crown-6 is employed as a “molecular scavenger” because of its excellent selectivity for lead(II). The modified electrode shows enhanced sensitivity, reproducibility and selectivity for lead(II) even without applying an electrical potential during the accumulation time. It responds linearly to lead(II) in the 1 to 30 nM concentration range (with a correlation coefficient of 0.9992) after a 10-min accumulation time. The detection limit is 1 nM. The sensor exhibits excellent selectivity over other heavy metal ions such as Cd(II), Cu(II), Zn(II), and Hg(II).

Examination of incubation time of bare gold electrode inside cysteamine solution for immobilization of multi-walled carbon nanotubes on a gold electrode modified with cysteamine

A cysteamine (CysAm) nanostructure was generated to act as an intermediate layer between gold electrode and carbon nanotubes. A bare gold electrode was placed in a solution of CysAm to create a self-assembled monolayer on its surface. The modified electrode was then incubated with a solution of multi-walled carbon nanotubes. Cyclic voltammetry and atomic force microscopy were used to characterize the modified electrode. The results indicated that the number of functionalized MWCNTs on the surface of the electrodes increased by enhancing incubation time.

Mediatorless amperometric bienzyme glucose biosensor based on horseradish peroxidase and glucose oxidase cross-linked to multiwall carbon nanotubes

We report on a bienzyme-channeling sensor for sensing glucose without the aid of mediator. It was fabricated by cross-linking horseradish peroxidase (HRP) and glucose oxidase (GOx) on a glassy carbon electrode modified with multiwalled carbon nanotubes (MWNTs). The bienzyme was cross-linked with the MWNTs by glutaraldehyde and bovine serum albumin. The MWNTs were employed to accelerate the electron transfer between immobilized HRP and electrode. Glucose was sensed by amperometric reduction of enzymatically generated H₂O₂ at an applied voltage of ?50 mV (vs. Ag/AgCl). Factors influencing the preparation and performance of the bienzyme electrode were investigated in detail. The biosensor exhibited a fast and linear response to glucose in the concentration range from 0.4 to 15 mM, with a detection limit of 0.4 mM. The sensor exhibited good selectivity and durability, with a long-term relative standard deviation of <5 %. Analysis of glucose-spiked human serum samples yielded recoveries between 96 and 101 %.