Mini Review: Electroanalytical Sensors of Mesoporous Silica Materials

Mesoporous silica materials are promising substrates for electroanalytical sensors and electrocatalysis. Their characteristics include uniform pore sizes, surface areas in excess of 1000 m² g^?1, and long-range ordering of the packing of pores. The size scale, aspect ratio, and properties of mesoporous silica provide advantages in a variety of sensor applications. To improve performance, miniaturize platforms, and expand applications for trace analysis, novel materials with high sensitivity and rapid response have been developed and employed in recent years. These materials include pure mesoporous silica, mesoporous silica functionalized with organic groups, and composite or hybrid mesoporous silica. In this review, recent advances are outlined involving the application of mesoporous silica-based materials in electroanalytical sensors.