Recent Advances in Nanomaterial‐Modified Pencil Graphite Electrodes for Electroanalysis

Pencil graphite electrodes (PGEs) have several advantages over other carbon‐based or commercial metal electrodes, including widespread availability, very low cost, and ease of modification. To make the best use of PGEs in electroanalysis, significant recent advances in the development of different nanomaterial‐PGEs have been observed. The literature published up to mid‐2015 is summarized in the present review, with a focus on the various methodologies used to readily modify graphite pencil electrodes using nanomaterials. This review also touches on the surface characterization of these electrodes and their potential applications in a variety of electrochemical detection applications. The review outlines the scope for further research in this area and discusses the importance of surface modifications of conventional PGE electrodes using nanomaterials or a combination of nanomaterials and electroactive polymers.     

The electrochemistry of activated carbonaceous materials: past, present, and future

Carbonaceous materials are widely used in electrochemistry. All allotropic forms of carbons??graphite, glassy carbon, amorphous carbon, fullerenes, nanotubes, and doped diamond??are used as important electrode materials in all fields of modern electrochemistry. Examples include graphite and amorphous carbons as anode materials in high-energy density rechargeable Li batteries, porous carbon electrodes in sensors and fuel cells, nano-amorphous carbon as a conducting agent in many kinds of composite electrodes (e.g., cathodes based on intercalation inorganic host materials for batteries), glassy carbon and doped diamond as stable robust and high stability electrode materials for all aspects of basic electrochemical studies, and more. Amorphous carbons can be activated to form very high specific surface area (yet stable) electrode materials which can be used for electrostatic energy storage and conversion [electrical double-layer capacitors (EDLC)] and separation techniques based on electro-adsorption, such as water desalination by capacitive de-ionization (CDI). Apart from the many practical aspects of activated carbon electrodes, there are many highly interesting and important basic aspects related to their study, including transport phenomena, molecular sieving behavior, correlation between electrochemical behavior and surface chemistry, and more. In this article, we review several important aspects related to these electrode materials, in a time perspective (past, present, and future), with the emphasis on their importance to EDLC devices and CDI processes.     

Role of carbon nanotubes in electroanalytical chemistry: a review

This review covers recent advances in the development of new designs of electrochemical sensors and biosensors that make use of electrode surfaces modification with carbon nanotubes. Applications based on carbon nanotubes-driven electrocatalytic effects, and the construction and analytical usefulness of new hybrid materials with polymers or other nanomaterials will be treated. Moreover, electrochemical detection using carbon nanotubes-modified electrodes as detecting systems in separation techniques such as high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) or capillary electrophoresis (CE) will be also considered. Finally, the preparation of electrochemical biosensors, including enzyme electrodes, immunosensors and DNA biosensors, in which carbon nanotubes play a significant role in their sensing performance will be separately considered.     

可充锂电池醌类化合物电极材料

醌类化合物电极材料具有理论比容量高、结构可设计、成本低廉和绿色可持续等优点,被认为是可充锂电池理想的电极材料。本文介绍了醌类化合物电极材料的分类及其结构特点、电化学工作原理及其电化学性能,对醌类化合物的发展、面临的问题等方面进行了概括,探讨了提高该类电极材料电化学性能的方法,并对醌类化合物电极材料的发展方向进行了展望。     

Exploring the electrocatalytic sites of carbon nanotubes for NADH detection: an edge plane pyrolytic graphite electrode study

The electrocatalytic properties of multi-walled carbon nanotube modified electrodes toward the oxidation of NADH are critically evaluated. Carbon nanotube modified electrodes are examined and compared with boron-doped diamond and glassy carbon electrodes, and most importantly, edge plane and basal pyrolytic graphite electrodes. It is found that CNT modified electrodes are no more reactive than edge plane pyrolytic graphite electrodes with the comparison with edge plane and basal plane pyrolytic graphite electrodes allowing the electroactive sites for the electrochemical oxidation of NADH to be unambiguously determined as due to edge plane sites. Using these highly reactive edge plane sites, edge plane pyrolytic graphite electrodes are examined with cyclic voltammetry and amperometry for the electroanalytical determination of NADH. It is demonstrated that a detection limit of 5 microM is possible with cyclic voltammetry or 0.3 microM using amperometry suggesting that edge plane pyrolytic graphite electrodes can conveniently replace carbon nanotube modified glassy carbon electrodes for biosensing applications with the relative advantages of reactivity, cost and simplicity of preparation. We advocate the routine use of edge plane and basal plane pyrolytic graphite electrodes in studies utilising carbon nanotubes particularly if 'electrocatalytic' properties are claimed for the latter.     

Bio-electrocatalysis of NADH and ethanol based on graphene sheets modified electrodes

Characterization and application of graphene sheets modified glassy carbon electrodes (graphene/GC) have been presented for the electrochemical bio-sensing. A probe molecule, potassium ferricyanide is employed to study the electrochemical response at the graphene/GC electrode, which shows better electron transfer than graphite modified (graphite/GC) and bare glassy carbon (GC) electrodes. Based on the highly enhanced electrochemical activity of NADH, alcohol dehydrogenase (ADH) is immobilized on the graphene modified electrode and displays a more desirable analytical performance in the detection of ethanol, compared with graphite/GC or GC based bio-electrodes. It also exhibits good performance of ethanol detection in the real samples. From the results of electrochemical investigation, graphene sheets with a favorable electrochemical activity could be an advanced carbon electrode materials for the design of electrochemical sensors and biosensors.     

C/C composite anodes for long-life lithium-ion batteries

The research of anodic materials which could improve the performance and reduce the cost of graphite-based materials in lithium-ion batteries leads to a considerable effort for creating novel carbons. In this work, special attention has been paid to investigating the possibility of improving the electrochemical behavior of graphite anode by application of composite materials with carbon materials coming from agro-wastes. For that, different carbons coming from agro-wastes have been synthesized and characterized in order to study the effect of their properties on the electrochemical performance of C/C composites with graphite. It has been established that introduction of hard carbon obtained from olive stones into the active mass of anode based on graphite allows one to increase the reversible capacity up to 405 mAh g^?1 for the total mass of graphite/carbon content of electrode, and also to improve stability of characteristics during cycling. We suggested that such a binary carbon mixture (graphite and hard carbon) would be a better choice for development of the anode for lithium-ion battery.     

Electrocatalysis at graphite and carbon nanotube modified electrodes: edge-plane sites and tube ends are the reactive sites

Carbon, and particularly graphite in its various forms, is an attractive electrode material. Two areas of particular interest are modified carbon electrodes and carbon nanotube electrodes. In this article we focus on the relationship between surface structure and electrochemical and chemical reactivity of electrodes based on these materials. We overview recent work in this area which has led us to believe that much of the catalytic activity, electron transfer and chemical reactivity of graphitic carbon electrodes is at surface defect sites, and in particular edge-plane-like defect sites. We also question the claimed special "catalytic" properties of carbon nanotube modified electrodes.     

Bioinspired superwettable electrodes towards electrochemical biosensing

Superwettable materials have attracted much attention due to their fascinating properties and great promise in several fields. Recently, superwettable materials have injected new vitality into electrochemical biosensors. Superwettable electrodes exhibit unique advantages, including large electrochemical active areas, electrochemical dynamics acceleration, and optimized management of mass transfer. In this review, the electrochemical reaction process at electrode/electrolyte interfaces and some fundamental understanding of superwettable materials are discussed. Then progress in different electrodes has been summarized, including superhydrophilic, superhydrophobic, superaerophilic, superaerophobic, and superwettable micropatterned electrodes, electrodes with switchable wettabilities, and electrodes with Janus wettabilities. Moreover, we also discussed the development of superwettable materials for wearable electrochemical sensors. Finally, our perspective for future research is presented.

The recent progress of superhydrophilic/phobic electrodes, superaerophilic/phobic electrodes, superwettable patterned electrodes, Janus wettability electrodes and wettability switchable electrodes in electrochemical biosensing is reviewed.     

《碳纳米材料电化学》专辑序言 ——方兴未艾的电化学能量转换和存储先进材料和技术

可以预见,在相当一段时期内,能源和环境将是全球发展的两大主题. 其实,人类对能源的获取方式将对地球的生态环境和人类未来的生存状态和生活方式产生重要影响. 正因为如此,世界各国正在大力发展可再生能源和清洁能源. 电化学能源是将化学能高效转变为电能的一种能量转换方式,它历史悠久,但不断被改进和创新,尤其是近年来得到了较快的发展. 目前,电化学能源转换和存储器件主要包括一次电池（如锌锰电池等）、二次电池（如铅酸电池、镍氢电池、锂离子电池等）、燃料电池、金属-空气电池以及超级电容器等. 电化学能源和其它可再生能源相互补充、交叉利用将是未来清洁能源的主要发展方向.     

一种新的测定微粒的电化学技术

设计了一种由2个石墨电极短路相连组成工作电极的新的电化学池装置.操作时首先通过外力按压使极少量固体微粒粘附在其中一个石墨电极表面上,然后在溶液存在下将微粒夹紧并固定在2个石墨电极表面之间进行电化学测定.电化学转化过程中生成的可溶性物质被封闭在2个石墨电极表面之间而得到测定.用该技术对钯沉积在氧化铝上而组成的催化剂的电化学行为以及黄铁矿的电化学行为进行了研究.结果表明,其兼具可电解粘合剂碳糊电极和固体微粒伏安法(voltammetry of microparticles)技术的优点而避免了各自的缺点:即不使用粘合剂,从而消除了粘合剂中杂质产生的氧化或还原电流的影响;可测定电化学转化过程中生成的可溶性物质;分辨率好、易于操作.     

Electrochemical Characterization of Carbon Solidlike Paste Electrode Assembled Using Different Carbon Nanoparticles

Solid like carbon paste electrodes (SCPEs) are built using different carbon materials namely carbon black N110, N220, N375, N772 and acetylene black. The electrochemical behavior of these electrodes and the influence of carbon black/paraffin ratio were studied and the results were discussed and compared to other electrodes prepared with graphite, mesoporous carbon and nanopowder carbon. Cyclic voltammetry, amperometry and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy were employed for their electrochemical and analytical characterizations. Amperometric measurements using N110, N220, N375 SCPEs with solid paraffin, showed a linear response of benzoquinone concentration with a detection limit of 75, 32 and 171 nM respectively.     

Graphites from the Zavalie deposit as active materials for lithium-ion batteries

We study the utility of standard graphites (GAK-2, GL-1, EUZ-M, and others) produced by the Zavalie Integrated Graphite Plant (ZGP) as active materials in lithium-ion batteries (LIBs). The structure and main electrochemical characteristics of these graphites are studied for choosing the best type of graphite and evaluating its utility for LIB production. The electrochemical characteristics of the best ZGP graphites and graphite for batteries produced by Superior Graphite Co. (USA), a worldwide leader of the graphite industry, are compared. Some tendencies in the effect of the structure and particle-size distribution on the electrochemical characteristics of graphite electrodes are determined. EUZ-M graphite modified by tin with amorphous carbon is prepared. The reversible capacity of this graphite in the cell against LiCoO₂ exceeds 400 mA h/g. The increased reversible capacity is due to the contribution of components having higher specific parameters; the cycling stability is due to the core-shell structure.     

Application of anodized edge-plane pyrolytic graphite electrode for analysis of clindamycin in pharmaceutical formulations and human urine samples

Different graphitic carbon-based electrode materials were evaluated for direct electro-oxidation of clindamycin and electroanalytical parameters such as sensitivity, residual background current, and signal-tobackground current ratio were compared to select the best one for the clindamycin electroanalysis. Such electrode materials include glassy carbon, carbon paste, pyrolytic graphite (edge-plane and basal-plane), carbon nanotube, reduced graphene oxide, and carbon black. The edge-plane pyrolytic graphite electrode after a simple and fast electrochemical pretreatment showed superior performance compared with the other carbon electrodes. Raman and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy were employed to analyze the surface microstructure and chemical bonding of the carbon materials and scanning electron microscopy was used to study their surface morphologic features. The applicability of the electrochemically activated edge-plane pyrolytic graphite electrode for the determination of clindamycin in pharmaceutical formulations and human urine samples was evaluated.     

Exploration of Stable Sonoelectrocatalysis for the Electrochemical Reduction of Oxygen

A series of modified electrodes were prepared both via solvent evaporation and electrochemical cycling of azobenzene and derivatives and various quinones and assessed for their suitability as oxygen reduction electrocatalysts and sonoelectrocatalysts. Glassy carbon electrodes were modified via solvent evaporation with 1,2‐dihydroxyanthraquinone and 1,2‐diazonium‐9,10‐anthraquinone while edge plane and basal plane pyrolytic graphite electrodes were modified by the same procedure with 9,10‐phenanthraquinone. The stability of the attached moiety was accessed in each case under ultrasound. For comparison the same electrode substrates were modified with 9,10‐phenanthraquinone by electrochemical cycling and also exposed to ultrasound. The observed results suggest the use of the glassy carbon electrodes modified with azobenzene and derivatives via solvent evaporation as the optimal carbon based sonoelectrocatalysts for oxygen reduction in term of stability under insonation and high catalytic rate.     

Electrocatalytic Oxidation and Flow-Injection Determination of Sulfur-Containing Amino Acids at Graphite Electrodes Modified with a Ruthenium Hexacyanoferrate Film

The electrochemical behavior of sulfur-containing amino acids (cysteine, cystine, and methionine) at graphite electrodes modified with a ruthenium(III) hexacyanoferrate(II) film was studied. Glassy carbon and carbon paste were used as graphite materials. The electrocatalytic oxidation of amino acids at a modified electrode resulted in a decrease in the oxidation potentials of amino acids and an increase in the currents of their oxidation peaks as compared to those observed at an unmodified electrode. The voltammetric characteristics and hydrodynamic conditions for detecting the maximum catalytic current were found. A procedure is proposed for the electrocatalytic determination of cysteine, cystine, and methionine at a carbon-paste electrode modified with an inorganic film of ruthenium(III) hexacyanoferrate(II) under the conditions of flow-injection analysis.     

铁—杂多酸液流电池的研究

本文报道的氧化还原流动池、负极活性物质为ＦｅＳＯ４，正极为Ｈ３ＰＭｏ１２Ｏ４０（ＨＰ），具有选择性的阳离子交换膜将两个经活化的多孔碳毯电极分开，两个氧化还原电对在碳和石墨电极上都具有相适应的电化学可逆性。电池的活性性质很稳定，电池没有使用寿命限制。     

Application of Different Carbon Materials for Carbon Paste Electrodes to Simultaneous Electrochemical Detection of four DNA Bases with High Simpleness

Three different carbon materials, graphite, graphene and multiwalled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs), were applied to fabricate carbon paste electrodes and used directly as working electrodes without any further modification in a simple electrochemical system for simultaneous detection of four DNA bases, guanine, adenine, thymine and cytosine. EIS and SEM were used to characterize the formed carbon paste electrodes made from different carbon nanomaterials and silicon oil, respectively. Conditions for bases detection were studied, such as ratio of carbon nanomaterials to silicon oil, types of buffer saline and pH. An unexpected result was discovered that compared with graphite and graphene, MWCNTs in carbon paste electrodes were not able to obtain admirable electrochemical behavior, the possible reason of which was preliminary discussed. Individual and simultaneous detection of four bases were successfully carried out, with acceptable linear ranges and low detection limits. Furthermore, this facile method had admirable reproducibility, stability and acceptable recovery in real urine sample (97.62 % ∼103.36 %), indicating certain practical potential.     

Electrochemical behavior of some purine derivatives on carbon based electrodes

The electrochemical behaviour of three purine derivatives was investigated by cyclic voltammetry on different electrode materials: glassy carbon in native form and electrochemically activated, carbon paste electrode unmodified or modified with 1, 4-benzoquinone. The preliminary study obtained on solid electrodes was extended to graphite based planar screen-printed electrodes, unmodified and modified with multi-wall carbon nanotubes, or cobalt phthalocyanine.     

Study of the influence of the graphite powder particle size on the structure of the Sonogel-Carbon materials

In this paper, the influence of carbon particles size on structure and on electrochemical and physical properties of the Sonogel-Carbon electrodes, with respect to Sonogel materials without graphite, have been studied. The materials have been characterized electrochemical and structurally; several Sonogel-Carbon materials were synthesized using different types of graphite powder as massive modifiers, adding in some cases other modifiers, such as octadecyl (C18) and polyethyleneglycol (PEG). Differential pulse voltammetry and cyclic voltammetry were the voltammetric techniques employed to evaluate the electrochemical behaviour; Scanning Electron Microscopy, Energy Dispersive Spectroscopy and Infrared Spectroscopy were the techniques employed to realize the superficial/structural characterization of the materials. The results obtained in both studies were very useful to explain the structure of the Sonogel-Carbon materials. Furthermore, they allowed to conclude that electrodes based on RW-B and UF graphites show very similar electrochemical behaviours and internal structures.