Graphene‐Functionalized 3D‐Carbon Fiber Electrodes – Preparation and Electrochemical Characterization

Graphene nanosheets were produced on the surface of carbon fibers by in situ electrochemical procedure including oxidative and reductive steps to yield first graphene oxide, later converted to graphene. The electrode material composed of graphene‐functionalized carbon fibers was characterized by scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and cyclic voltammery demonstrating superior electrochemical kinetics comparing with the original carbon paper. The interfacial electron transfer rate for the reversible redox process of [Fe(CN)₆]^3?/4? was found ca. 4.5‐fold higher after the electrode modification with the graphene nanosheets. The novel electrode material is suggested as a promising conducting interface for bioelectrocatalytic electrodes used in various electrochemical biosensors and biofuel cells, particularly operating in vivo.     

Electro‐oxidized Monolayer CVD Graphene Film Transducer for Ultrasensitive Impedimetric DNA Biosensor

We report the effect of electrochemical anodization on the properties of monolayer graphene as the main aim of this research and consequently using the resulting label‐free impedimetric biosensor for DNA sequences detection. Monolayer graphene was grown by chemical vapor deposition (CVD) with methane as precursor on copper foil, transferred onto a glassy carbon electrode and electrochemically anodized. Raman spectroscopy and X‐Ray photo electron spectroscopy revealed enhancement of defect density, roughness and formation of C−O−C, C−O−H and C=O functional groups after anodization. Amine‐terminated poly T probe was linked covalently to the carboxylic groups of anodized graphene by the zero‐length linker to fabricate the impedance‐based DNA biosensor. The anodized graphene electrode demonstrated a superior performance for electrochemical impedance detection of DNA. The DNA biosensor showed a large linear dynamic range from 2.0×10⁻¹⁸ to 1.0×10⁻¹² M with a limit of detection of 1.0×10⁻¹⁸ M using electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) method. Equivalent circuit modeling shows that DNA hybridization is detected through a change in charge transfer resistance.     

Sensitivity Enhancement in Nickel Hydroxide/3D‐Graphene as Enzymeless Glucose Detection

A nickel hydroxide (Ni(OH)₂)/3D‐graphene composite is used as monolithic free‐standing electrode for enzymeless electrochemical detection of glucose. Ni(OH)₂ nanoflakes are synthesized by using a simple solution growth procedure on 3D‐graphene foam which was grown by chemical vapor deposition (CVD). The pore structure of 3D‐graphene allows easy access to glucose with high surface area, which leads to glucose detection with an ultrahigh sensitivity of 3.49 mA mM^?1 cm^?2 and a significant lower detection limit up to 24 nM. Cyclic voltammetry (CV) and potentionstatic mode is used for non‐enzymatic glucose sensing. The impedance and effective surface area have been studied well. The high sensitivity, low detection limit and simple configuration of Ni(OH)₂/three dimensional (3D)‐graphene composite electrodes can evoke its industrial application in glucose sensing devices.     

Electrochemical Determination of Dopamine Using a Poly(3,4-Ethylenedioxythiophene)-Reduced Graphene Oxide-Modified Glassy Carbon Electrode

Poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene) was deposited on a reduced graphene oxide-decorated glassy carbon electrode through an electrochemical polymerization. The resulting glassy carbon electrode-reduced graphene oxide-poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene) electrode was applied as an electrochemical biosensor for the determination of dopamine in the presence of ascorbic acid and uric acid. The material deposited on glassy carbon electrode was investigated in terms of morphology and structural analysis. The comparison of electrochemical behavior of the glassy carbon electrode-reduced graphene oxide-poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene) electrode with the glassy carbon electrode-graphene oxide, glassy carbon electrode-reduced graphene oxide, and glassy carbon electrode-poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene) electrodes exhibited high electrocatalytic activity for dopamine detection. Electrochemical kinetic parameters of glassy carbon electrode-reduced graphene oxide-poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene), including the charge transfer coefficient α (0.49) and electron transfer rate constant k_s (1.04), were determined and discussed. The glassy carbon electrode-reduced graphene oxide-poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene) electrode was studied for the determination of dopamine by differential pulse voltammetry and exhibited a linear range from 19.6 to 122.8?µM with a sensitivity of 3.27?µA?µM^?1?cm^?2 and a detection limit of 1.92?µM. The developed biosensor exhibited good selectivity toward dopamine with high reproducibility and stability.     

Insights into electrocatalytic activity of epitaxial graphene on SiC from cyclic voltammetry and ac impedance spectroscopy

Electrocatalytic activity of graphene grown epitaxially on SiC is studied using cyclic voltammetry and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy. AFM images show step-like topography of SiC-graphene. For ferri-/ferrocyanide redox couple, no voltammetric response is observed at the pristine graphene. Basal planes of graphite are electrochemically inactive as well. After electrochemical oxidation, apparent redox peaks appear at both the graphene and graphite electrode. However, more intensive redox peaks are observed at graphene, where simultaneous redox reaction with the adsorbed and the diffused ferri-/ferrocyanide ions occurs. Electrochemical impedance measurements show that the graphene electrode behaves like an array of microelectrodes. We used the partially blocked electrode model to fit impedance data. Using the fitting parameters, a size of microelectrodes was found to be 23.8?±?2.1 μm and the active surface of graphene was estimated to be 21 %. A value of the standard electron transfer rate constant found for the anodized epitaxial graphene (2.16?±?0.32)?×?10^??3cm???s^??1) is by one order of magnitude lower than the standard rate constant estimated for the anodized graphite basal planes (～5?×?10^??2cm???s^??1). Electrochemical reduction causes total disappearance of electrochemical responses at the graphene electrode, whereas only slight decrease of the peak currents is observed at the reduced graphene. Such behavior proves that different activation mechanisms occur at the graphene and graphite electrodes.     

Study of the Electrochemical Behavior of Disperse Blue 1‐Modified Graphite Electrodes. Application to the Flow Determination of NADH

The preparation and the electrochemical study of Disperse Blue 1‐chemically modified electrodes (DB1‐CME), as well as their efficiency for the electrocatalytic oxidation of NADH is described. The proposed mediator was immobilized by physical adsorption onto graphite electrodes. The electrochemical behavior of DB1‐CME was studied with cyclic voltammetry. The electrochemical redox reaction of DB1 was found to be reversible, revealing two well‐shaped pair of peaks with formal potentials 152 and ?42 mV, respectively, (vs. Ag/AgCl/3M KCl) at pH 6.5. The current I_p has a linear relationship with the scan rate up to 800 mV s^?1, which is indicative for a fast electron transfer kinetics. The dissociation constants of the immobilized DB1 redox couple were calculated pK₁=4 and pK₂=5. The electrochemical rate constants of the immobilized DB1 were calculated k₁°=18 s^?1 and k₂°=23 s^?1 (Γ=2.36 nmol cm^?2). The modified electrodes were mounted in a flow injection manifold, poised at +150 mV (vs. Ag/AgCl/3M KCl) and a catalytic current due to the oxidation of NADH was measured. The reproducibility was 1.4% RSD (n=11 for 30 μM NADH) The behavior of the sensor towards different reducing compounds was investigated. The sensor exhibited good operational and storage stability.     

Electroless Deposition of Thionin onto Glassy Carbon Electrode Modified with Single Wall and Multiwall Carbon Nanotubes: Improvement of the Electrochemical Reversibility and Stability

A simple procedure was developed to prepare a glassy carbon electrode modified with carbon nanotubes (CNTs) and thionin. Abrasive immobilization of CNTs on a GC electrode was achieved by gently rubbing the electrode surface on a filter paper supporting carbon nanotubes, then immersing the GC/CNTs‐modified electrode into a thionin solution (electroless deposition) for a short period of time (5–50 s for MWCNTs and 5–120 s for SWCNTs ). Cyclic voltammograms of the resulting modified electrode show stable and a well defined redox couple with surface confined characteristic at wide pH range 2–12. The electrochemical reversibility and stability of modified electrode prepared with incorporation of thionin into CNTs film was compared with usual methods for attachment of thionin to electrode surfaces such as electropolymerization and adsorption on the surface of preanodized electrodes. The formal potential of redox couple (E°′) shifts linearly toward the negative direction with increasing solution pH. The surface coverage of thionin immobilized on CNTs glassy carbon electrode was approximately 1.95×10^?10 mol cm^?2 and 3.2×10^?10 mol cm^?2 for MWCNTs and SWCNTs, respectively. The transfer coefficient (α) was calculated to be 0.3 and 0.35 and heterogeneous electron transfer rate constants (K_s) were 65 s^?1 and 55 s^?1 for MWCNTs/thionin and SWCNTs/thionin‐modified GC electrodes, respectively. The results clearly show a great facilitation of the electron transfer between thionin and CNTs adsorbed on the electrode surface. Excellent electrochemical reversibility of redox couple, high stability, technically simple and possibility of preparation at short period of time are of great advantages of this procedure for modification of electrodes.     

Enhanced Electrocatalytic Reduction of Oxadiargyl and Its Determination on 2‐(4‐((4‐Acetylphenyl)diazenyl)phenylamino)‐ethanol Modified Graphene‐Paste Electrode

The electrochemical behavior of oxadiargyl at a graphene‐paste electrode modified with an azo dye, 2‐(4‐((4‐acetylphenyl)diazenyl)phenylamino)ethanol (ADPE), ADPE/MGRPE was investigated. The modified electrode showed high electrocatalytic activity toward oxadiargyl. The apparent electron transfer rate constant (k_s) and charge transfer coefficient (α) between electrode and ADPE were 1.16 s^?1 and 0.41, respectively. The differential pulse voltammetry response of the modified graphene‐paste electrode was linear against the concentration of oxadiargyl in the range from 0.03 to 1.4 mg L^?1. The limit of detection was found to be 1.3 µg L^?1 (S/N=3). The practical analytical utility of this electrode was demonstrated by measurement of oxadiargyl in river water, soil and rice samples.     

Inherent Electrochemistry and Activation of Chemically Modified Graphenes for Electrochemical Applications

Graphene research is currently at the frontier of electrochemistry. Many different graphene‐based materials are employed by electrochemists as electrodes in sensing and in energy‐storage devices. Because the methods for their preparation are inherently different, graphene materials are expected to exhibit different electrochemical behaviors depending on the functionalities and density of defects present. Electrochemical treatment of these “chemically modified graphenes” (CMGs) represents an easy approach to alter surface functionalities and consequently tune the electrochemical performance. Herein, we report a preliminary electrochemical characterization of four common chemically modified graphenes, namely: graphene oxide, graphite oxide, chemically reduced graphene oxide, and thermally reduced graphene oxide. These CMGs were compared with graphite as a reference material. Cyclic voltammetry was used to ascertain the chemical functionalities present and to understand the potential ranges in which the materials were electroactive. Electrochemical treatment with either an oxidative or a reductive fixed potential were then carried out to activate these chemically modified graphenes. The effects of such electrochemical treatments on their electrocatalytic properties were then investigated by cyclic voltammetry in the presence of well‐known redox probes, such as [Fe(CN)₆]^4?/3?, Fe^3+/2+, [Ru(NH₃)₆]^2+/3+, and ascorbic acid. Thermally reduced graphene oxide exhibited the best electrochemical behavior amongst all of the CMGs, with the fastest rate of heterogeneous electron transfer (HET) and the lowest overpotentials. These findings will have far‐reaching consequences for the evaluation of different CMGs as electrode materials in electrochemical devices.     

Sonovoltammetric Elucidation of Electron Transfer Rates: The Oxidation of Dimethyl‐p‐phenylenediamine in Aqueous Solution

The electrochemical oxidation of dimethyl‐p‐phenylenediamine (DMPD) in aqueous solution (pH 7 phosphate buffer) has been studied under conventional hydrodynamic and microelectrode voltammetric conditions and found to undergo a two‐electron electrochemically reversible oxidation. Upon the application of ultrasound to the system an observed shoulder emerges in the oxidation wave. This effect has been attributed to the resolution of the two‐electron transfer processes occurring: the first a relatively fast electron transfer (0.1 cm s^?1) followed by a second slower (10^?3 cm s^?1) electron transfer: under the very high mass transport rates induced by insonation an overpotential develops for the second electron transfer so leading to the observed voltammetric resolution. The range of mass transport conditions accessible via sonication allows the estimation of the two rate constants reported.     

A Surface Grafting of Carbon Allotropes with in‐situ Generated 3‐aryl Diazonium Chlorides: Electrochemical Kinetic Studies

In this work three different carbon allotropes: multi‐walled carbon nanotubes (MWCNT), graphene and carbon nanohorns (CNH) were covalently bound with in‐situ generated 3‐diazonium aryl chlorides. These species were attached to the carbon surface using an electrochemically‐initiated radical coupling, similar to the Gomberg‐Bachman type reaction. An electrochemical grafting of the extended π‐systems at the carbon surface was performed in aqueous media in a simple 3‐electrode system and its kinetics was investigated by a modified Butler‐Volmer approach. The analysis of Hammett constants demonstrated a strong influence of the type of electron donating‐/withdrawing substituents on the reduction potential peak position and the peak current. Moderately or strong electron withdrawing groups like ‐carboxy or ‐nitro tend to shift reduction potential towards more positive values, which facilitates an electron uptake. The deposition time varies for different carbon allotropes and depends on the carbon graphitization and the surface area. The best surface coverage was obtained at 90–150 sec of the deposition. Although, the surface functionalities are less conductive than the carbon, the electrodes showed a low internal resistance and thus a high rate of electron transfer (high exchange current density and the electron transfer rate constant), with the most promising observed for carbon nanohorns. The best performing carbon revealed also superior mass transport of the redox active species toward the electrode surface, owing to their unique particle shapes and its very porous structure. The Tafel analysis complemented by an impedance spectroscopy allowed selecting the best carbon substrate for the functionalization with a 3‐aminobenzoic acid.     

Nanodiamond Thin Film Electrodes: Metal Electro‐Deposition and Stripping Processes

The properties of a nanodiamond thin film deposit formed on titanium substrates in a microwave‐plasma enhanced CVD process, are investigated for applications in electroanalysis. The nanodiamond deposit consists of intergrown nano‐sized platelets of diamond with a high sp² carbon content giving it high electrical conductivity and electrochemical reactivity. Nanodiamond thin film electrodes (of approximately 2 μm thickness) are characterized by electron microscopy and electrochemical methods. First, for a reversible one electron redox system, Ru(NH₃)₆^3+/2+, nanodiamond is shown to give well‐defined diffusion controlled voltammetric responses. Next, metal deposition processes are shown to proceed on nanodiamond with high reversibility and high efficiency compared to processes reported on boron‐doped diamond. The nucleation of gold is shown to be facile at edge sites, which are abundant on the nanodiamond surface. For the deposition and stripping of both gold and copper, a stripping efficiency (the ratio of electro‐dissolution charge to electro‐deposition charge) of close to unity is detected even at low concentrations of analyte. The effect of thermal annealing in air is shown to drastically modify the electrode characteristics probably due to interfacial oxidation, loss of active sp² sites, and loss of conductivity.     

The Influence of Doping Levels and Surface Termination on the Electrochemistry of Polycrystalline Diamond

The influence of surface chemistry and boron doping density on the redox chemistry of Fe(CN) at CVD polycrystalline diamond electrodes is considered. It is demonstrated that for this couple both the doping density and the surface chemistry are important in determining the rate of charge transfer at the electrode/electrolyte interface. For hydrogen terminated CVD diamond metallic electrochemical behavior is always observed, even at boron doping densities as low as 7×10¹⁸ cm^?3. In contrast, the electrochemical behavior of oxygen terminated CVD diamond varies with doping density, a metallic response being observed at high doping density and semiconductor behavior at low doping density. It is shown that the results attained may be explained by a surface state mediated charge transfer mechanism, thus demonstrating the importance of controlling surface chemistry in electroanalytical applications of diamond.     

Highly Active Bidirectional Electron Transfer by a Self‐Assembled Electroactive Reduced‐Graphene‐Oxide‐Hybridized Biofilm

Low extracellular electron transfer performance is often a bottleneck in developing high‐performance bioelectrochemical systems. Herein, we show that the self‐assembly of graphene oxide and Shewanella oneidensis MR‐1 formed an electroactive, reduced‐graphene‐oxide‐hybridized, three‐dimensional macroporous biofilm, which enabled highly efficient bidirectional electron transfers between Shewanella and electrodes owing to high biomass incorporation and enhanced direct contact‐based extracellular electron transfer. This 3D electroactive biofilm delivered a 25‐fold increase in the outward current (oxidation current, electron flux from bacteria to electrodes) and 74‐fold increase in the inward current (reduction current, electron flux from electrodes to bacteria) over that of the naturally occurring biofilms.     

Hybrid Hydrogels of Porous Graphene and Nickel Hydroxide as Advanced Supercapacitor Materials

Graphene‐based hydrogels can be used as supercapacitor electrodes because of their excellent conductivity, their large surface area and their high compatibility with electrolytes. Nevertheless, the large aspect ratio of graphene sheets limits the kinetics of processes occurring in the electrode of supercapacitors. In this study, we have introduced in‐plane and out‐of‐plane pores into a graphene–nickel hydroxide (Ni(OH)₂) hybrid hydrogel, which facilitates charge and ion transport in the electrode. Due to its optimised chemistry and architecture, the hybrid electrode demonstrates excellent electrochemical properties with a combination of high charge storage capacitance, fast rate capability and stable cycling performance. Remarkably, the Ni(OH)₂ in the hybrid contributes a capacitance as high as 3138.5 F g^?1, which is comparable to its theoretical capacitance, suggesting that such structure facilitates effectively charge‐transfer reactions in electrodes. This work provides a facile pathway for tailoring the porosity of graphene‐based materials for improved performances. Moreover, this work has also furthered our understanding in the effect of pore and hydrogel structures on the electrochemical properties of materials.     

Single‐Wall Carbon Nanotube Paste Electrodes: a Comparison with Carbon Paste,Platinum and Glassy Carbon Electrodes via Cyclic Voltammetric Data

A new carbon electrode material, obtained by mixing single wall carbon nanotubes (SWNTs) with a mineral oil binder is studied. Carbon nanotube pastes show the special properties of carbon nanotubes combined with the various advantages of composite electrodes such as a very low capacitance (background current) and the possibility of an easy preparation, modification and renewal. A better knowledge of the characteristics of electrode reactions at carbon nanotube paste (CNTP) electrodes was obtained studying the electron transfer rates of various redox couples under different pretreatment conditions. A critical comparison with carbon paste (CP), platinum (Pt) and glassy carbon (GC) electrodes was also carried out. Capacitance and resistance values were also calculated for all electrodes investigated. Both untreated and treated CNTP electrodes showed a low resistance while the capacitance was markedly reduced with CNTP electrodes previously treated with concentrated nitric acid. An electrochemical pretreatment on CNTP electrodes was developed which showed an excellent result towards two‐electron quinonic structure species. After this treatment the heterogeneous standard rate constants for p‐methylaminophenol sulfate (MAP) and dopamine resulted to be significantly higher (2.1×10^?2 cm/s and 2.0×10^?2 cm/s, respectively) than those obtained with the other electrodes studied. Reproducibility, stability and storage characteristics of CNTP electrodes were also reported.     

Voltammetric Determination of Sophoridine Based on Gold Nanoparticles/L‐cysteine/ Graphene Modified Glassy Carbon Electrode

A new strategy to make the electrochemical sensor was presented, through combining gold nanoparticles (GNPs) with reduced graphene oxide (rGO) via L‐cysteine (L‐cys) as crosslinker. The resulting electrodes were characterized by scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and electrochemical methods. And it was applied to develop a high‐sensitive electrochemical sensor for determination of sophoridine. Compared with the bare GCE and reduced graphene oxide modified electrode, the resulting electrodes exhibited excellent response toward the oxidation of sophoridine by significantly enhancing the oxidation peak currents and decreasing the overpotential of sophoridine. Under the selected conditions, there exist the linear relation between the oxidation peak currents and sophoridine concentration in the range of 1.0 x 10^‐6～1.0 x 10^‐4 mol L^‐1, with detection limit of 4.0 x 10^‐7 mol L^‐1. At the same time, the method can be successfully applied to the quantitative determination of sophoridine in injection samples and its result is satisfactory.     

A Multiple Evaluation Approach of Commercially Available Screen‐Printed Nanostructured Carbon Electrodes

Commercially available carbon‐based screen‐printed electrodes were studied by cyclic voltammetry and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy in their behavior towards electron transfer to the soluble fast redox probes hexacyanoferrate(III), hexaammineruthenium(III) and methyl‐viologen. Semi‐infinite linear diffusion was observed for hexacyanoferrate(III) probe, with heterogeneous electron transfer rate constants significantly favored on nanotubes‐modified surfaces. Finite diffusion was observed for methyl‐viologen on graphene electrodes, which was reflected in the enhancement of the faradic currents by 4‐folds. Hexaammineruthenium(III) showed mixed diffusion behavior. These characteristics are reflected in the voltammetric behavior of lead(II) and cadmium(II) stripping from in‐situ deposited bismuth layer.     

Sensitive Electrochemical Determination of Catechol with a Graphene Modified Carbon Ionic Liquid Electrode

In this paper a graphene (GR) modified carbon ionic liquid electrode (CILE) was fabricated and used as the voltammetric sensor for the sensitive detection of catechol. Due to the specific physicochemical characteristics of GR such as high surface area, excellent conductivity and good electrochemical properties, the modified electrode exhibits rapid response and strong catalytic activity with high stability toward the electrochemical oxidation of catechol. A pair of well‐defined redox peaks appeared with the anodic and the cathodic peak potential located at 225 mV and 133 mV (vs.SCE) in pH 6.5 phosphate buffer solution, respectively. Electrochemical behaviors of catechol on the GR modified CILE were carefully investigated and the electrochemical parameters were calculated with the results of the electrode reaction standard rate constant (k_s) as 1.24 s^?1, the charge transfer coefficient (α) as 0.4 and the electron transfer number (n) as 2. Under the selected conditions the differential pulse voltammetric peak current increased linearly with the catechol concentrations in the range from 1.0 × 10^‐7 to 7.0 × 10^?4mol L‐1 with the detection limit as 3.0 × 10^?8mol L‐1 (3σ). The proposed method was further applied to the synthetic waste water samples determination with satisfactory results     

Nanocomposites of Sulfonic Polyaniline Nanoarrays on Graphene Nanosheets with an Improved Supercapacitor Performance

A new nanocomposite, poly(aniline‐co‐diphenylamine‐4‐sulfonic acid)/graphene (PANISP/rGO), was prepared by means of an in situ oxidation copolymerization of aniline (ANI) with diphenylamine‐4‐sulfonic acid (SP) in the presence of graphene oxide, followed by the chemical reduction of graphene oxide using hydrazine hydrate as a reductant. The morphology and structure of PANISP/rGO were characterized by field‐emission (FE) SEM, TEM, X‐ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), Raman, FTIR, and UV/Vis spectra. The electrochemical performance was evaluated by cyclic voltammetry, galvanostatic charge–discharge, and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy. The PANISP/rGO nanocomposite showed a nanosized structure, with sulfonic polyaniline nanoarrays coated homogeneously on the surface of graphene nanosheets. This special structure of the nanocomposite also facilitates the enhancement of the electrochemical performance of the electrodes. The PANISP/rGO nanocomposite exhibits a specific supercapacitance up to 1170 F g^?1 at the current density of 0.5 A g^?1. The as‐prepared electrodes show excellent supercapacitive performance because of the synergistic effects between graphene and the sulfonic polyaniline copolymer chains.