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.     

Selective and sensitive determination of dopamine by composites of polypyrrole and graphene modified electrodes

A novel method is developed to fabricate the polypyrrole (PPy) and graphene thin films on electrodes by electrochemical polymerization of pyrrole with graphene oxide (GO) as a dopant, followed by electrochemical reduction of GO in the composite film. The composite of PPy and electrochemically reduced graphene oxide (eRGO)-modified electrode is highly sensitive and selective toward the detection of dopamine (DA) in the presence of high concentrations of ascorbic acid (AA) and uric acid (UA). The sensing performance of the PPy/eRGO-modified electrode is investigated by differential pulse voltammetry (DPV), revealing a linear range of 0.1-150 μM with a detection limit of 23 nM (S/N = 3). The practical application of the PPy/eRGO-modified electrode is successfully demonstrated for DA determination in human blood serum.     

Electroanalytical Approach for Quantification of Pesticide Maneb

For the first time, in this study electrochemical oxidation behavior of pesticide maneb is evaluated. Due to the structure electroanalytical quantification of maneb has not been exploited enough. Maneb electrochemical behavior was investigated using glassy carbon (GC), graphene modified glassy carbon (GR/GC) and boron doped diamond (BDD) electrodes. It is shown that only BDD shows satisfactory results toward maneb detection. Based on this, a simple, sensitive and selective electroanalytical method for determination of pesticide maneb using differential pulse voltammetry (DPV) is proposed, with a working linear range of 80–3000 nM and the limit of detection of 24 nM. The developed methodology has been applied for the determination of maneb in river water samples with satisfactory recovery. Additionally, this green method, being simple, fast, and free of chemical‐reduction reagents, offers several advantages over modified electrodes and expands the scope of BDD based electrochemical sensing devices, with promise for wider applications in environmental analysis.     

Measurement of the Antipsychotic Clozapine Using Reduced Graphene Oxide Nanocomposites-Au/Pd/Pt Electrodes

Enhanced methods of drug monitoring are required to support the individualization of therapeutic drug dosing. Clozapine is one of the most important medications for managing schizophrenia, and timely measurement of serum clozapine levels has been identified as a barrier to the broader use of clozapine. For the first time, reduced graphene oxide nanocomposites were used to construct an electrochemical clozapine (Clz) sensor. The Reduced graphene oxide (Rego) nanocomposites were synthesized and characterized by using X-Ray Diffraction (XRD), Fourier-Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR), Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM), and Transmission Electron Microscopy (TEM) techniques. The Clz sensing electrode was fabricated by drop coating of Rego nanocomposites suspension and Nafion solution on the pencil graphite electrode, respectively. The electrochemical behavior and influence of various physicochemical parameters of sensing electrodes were investigated by using cyclic voltammetry (CV) and differential voltammetry (DPV) techniques. The designed sensor displayed decent linear range, detection limit, reproducibility, and reusability results. Under optimum experimental parameters a linear dynamic range of 0.05–10 μM clozapine was observed with actual detection limit of 50 nM. Furthermore, the designed sensing electrode was used to measure the amount of Clz in real samples.     

Trace Analysis of Heavy Metals (Cd,Pb, Hg) Using Native and Modified 3D Printed Graphene/Poly(Lactic Acid) Composite Electrodes

Here we investigate the use of 3D printed graphene/poly(lactic acid) (PLA) electrodes for quantifying trace amounts of Hg, Pb, and Cd. We prepared cylindrical electrodes by sealing a 600 μm diameter graphene/PLA filament in a pipette tip filled with epoxy. We characterized the electrodes using scanning electron microscopy, Raman spectroscopy, and cyclic voltammetry in ferrocene methanol. The physical characterization showed a significant amount of disorder in the carbon structure and the electrochemical characterization showed quasi‐reversible behavior without any electrode pretreatment. We then used unmodified graphene/PLA electrode to quantify Hg, and Pb and Cd in 0.01 M HCl and 0.1 M acetate buffer using square wave anodic stripping voltammetry. We were able to quantify Hg with a limit of detection (LOD) of 6.1 nM (1.2 ppb), but Pb and Cd did not present measurable peaks at concentrations below ～400 nM. We improved the LODs for Pb and Cd by depositing Bi microparticles on the graphene/PLA and, after optimization, achieved clear stripping peaks at the 20 nM level for both ions (4.1 and 2.2 ppb for Pb²⁺ and Cd²⁺, respectively). The results obtained for all three metals allowed quantification below the US Environmental Protection Agency action limits in drinking water.     

Graphene Quantum Dots‐based Electrochemical Biosensor for Catecholamine Neurotransmitters Detection

An useful electrochemical sensing approach was developed for epinephrine (EP) detection based on graphene quantum dots (GQDs) and laccase modified glassy carbon electrodes (GC). The miniature GC biosensor was designed and constructed via the immobilization of laccase in an electroactive layer of the electrode coated with carbon nanoparticles. This sensing arrangement utilized the catalytic oxidation of EP to epinephrine quinone. The detection process was based on the oxidation of catecholamine in the presence of the enzyme – laccase. With the optimized conditions, the analytical performance demonstrated a high degree of sensitivity −2.9 μA mM⁻¹ cm⁻², selectivity in a broad linear range (1–120×10⁻⁶ M) with detection limit of 83 nM. Moreover, the method was successfully applied for EP determination in labeled pharmacological samples.     

Facile Assembly of Graphene on Anion Exchange Resin Microspheres for Electrochemical Sensing and Biosensing

Graphene sheets were assembled on anion exchange resin (AER) microspheres based on the electrostatic interactions between graphene oxide and AER and subsequent chemical reduction. The prepared graphene‐coated AER microspheres were characterized by scanning electron microscopy, X‐ray diffraction, and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy. They were then embedded in the bores of pipette tips to fabricate disposable electrodes for electrochemical sensing. The workability and performance of the novel electrodes were examined by analyzing the electrochemical behavior of the electrodes for the sensing of ascorbic acid, dopamine, uric acid, acetaminophen, aniline, and glucose by cyclic voltammetry and amperometry. The advantages of the electrodes include ease of fabrication, low cost, pronounced electrocatalytic activity, and rapid response. Thus, they hold great promise for a wide range of applications.     

Enhanced electrochemical sensitivity of PtRh electrodes coated with nitrogen-doped graphene

We report the enhancement of electron transfer properties of PtRh electrodes modified by nitrogen-doped graphene coating. The nitrogen-doped graphene coating prepared by a hydrazine-assisted ultrasonication allows for the development of new and effective graphene-based electrode materials for electrochemical sensing.     

Sensitive electrochemical sensing for polycyclic aromatic amines based on a novel core–shell multiwalled carbon nanotubes@ graphene oxide nanoribbons heterostructure

Being awfully harmful to the environment and human health, the qualitative and quantitative determinations of polycyclic aromatic amines (PAAs) are of great significance. In this paper, a novel core–shell heterostructure of multiwalled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) as the core and graphene oxide nanoribbons (GONRs) as the shell (MWCNTs@GONRs) was produced from longitudinal partially unzipping of MWCNTs side walls using a simple wet chemical strategy and applied for electrochemical determination of three kinds of PAAs (1-aminopyrene (1-AP), 1-aminonaphthalene and 3,3′-diaminobiphenyl). Scanning electron microscopy, transmission electron microscopy, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, Raman spectroscopy, thermogravimetric analysis and electrochemical methods were used to characterize the as-prepared MWCNTs@GONRs. Due to the synergistic effects from MWCNTs and GONRs, the oxidation currents of PAAs at the MWCNTs@GONRs modified glassy carbon (GC) electrode are much higher than that at the MWCNTs/GC, graphene/GC and bare GC electrodes. 1-AP was used as the representative analyte to demonstrate the sensing performance of the MWCNTs@GONRs/GC electrode, and the proposed modified electrode has a linear response range of 8.0–500.0 nM with a detection limit of 1.5 nM towards 1-AP.     

Sensitive detection of biomolecules and DNA bases based on graphene nanosheets

High surface area electrode materials are of interest for the application of electrochemical sensors. Currently, chemical vapor deposition (CVD) graphene-sensing electrodes are scarce. Herein, for the first time, a graphene based on a Ta wire support was prepared using the CVD method to form a highly electroactive biosensing platform. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS), cyclic voltammetry (CV), and differential pulse voltammetry (DPV) were utilized to characterize the morphology and investigate the electrochemical properties of the CVD graphene electrodes. The resulting CVD graphene electrode exhibited good electrocatalytic activity and had a prominent response effect on dopamine, uric acid, guanine, and adenine. Standing graphene nanosheets have rich catalytic sites such as the edges, the defect levels of the plane, and porous network structures between the graphene nanosheets. These catalytic sites prompt the adsorption and resolution for the four species and the strong electron transport capability of the CVD graphene, which effectively improved the electrical signals for response to four species. Moreover, the graphene electrode is a promising candidate in electrochemical sensing and other electrochemical device applications.     

Ultrafast Electron Transfer Kinetics of Graphene Grown by Chemical Vapor Deposition

High electrochemical reactivity is required for various energy and sensing applications of graphene grown by chemical vapor deposition (CVD). Herein, we report that heterogeneous electron transfer can be remarkably fast at CVD‐grown graphene electrodes that are fabricated without using the conventional poly(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA) for graphene transfer from a growth substrate. We use nanogap voltammetry based on scanning electrochemical microscopy to obtain very high standard rate constants k⁰≥25 cm s^?1 for ferrocenemethanol oxidation at polystyrene‐supported graphene. The rate constants are at least 2–3 orders of magnitude higher than those at PMMA‐transferred graphene, which demonstrates an anomalously weak dependence of electron‐transfer rates on the potential. Slow kinetics at PMMA‐transferred graphene is attributed to the presence of residual PMMA. This unprecedentedly high reactivity of PMMA‐free CVD‐grown graphene electrodes is fundamentally and practically important.     

Studies on differential sensing of dopamine at the surface of chemically sensitized ormosil-modified electrodes

We report herein the preparation of few chemically sensitized organically modified sol–gel glass (ormosil) films and sensing of dopamine at the surface of the modified electrodes derived from these films. The chemical sensitization in ormosil-modified electrodes is introduced by incorporating: (a) potassium ferricyanide and (b) either Nafion, or dibenzo-18-crown-6 or in situ generated Prussian blue from potassium ferricyanide. Electrochemical sensing of dopamine on the surfaces of these modified electrodes have been investigated and found that: (i) the presence of dibenzo-18-crown-6 facilitate the magnitude of dopamine sensing, (ii) conversion of potassium ferricyanide into Prussian blue also enhances the magnitude of dopamine sensing as compared to that of control and Nafion sensitized modified electrodes, (iii) both dibenzo-18-crown-6 and Nafion sensitized ormosil-modified electrodes are found selective to dopamine in the presence of ascorbic acid present under physiological concentration range. These finding again directed our attention to investigate the sensing of dopamine: (a) on dibenzo-18-crown-6 incorporated within Prussian blue sensitized modified electrode and (b) in the presence of varying concentrations of dibenzo-18-crown-6 in the Prussian blue modified electrodes. The investigations made on these lines again suggested the following: (1) increase in dibenzo-18-crown-6 concentrations in the modified electrode increases the magnitude of dopamine sensing upto an optimum concentration of macrocycle; (2) the detection limit of dopamine sensing goes down to 30 nM as compared to that of dibenzo-18-crown-6 incorporated with potassium ferricyanide which was found to the order of 100 nM. Investigations of the interference of ascorbic acid revealed that the presence of dibenzo-18-crown-6 introduces selectivity in dopamine sensing in the presence such common interfering analyte like ascorbic acid.     

Graphene electrochemistry: fabricating amperometric biosensors

The electrochemical sensing of hydrogen peroxide is of substantial interest to the operation of oxidase-based amperometric biosensors. We explore the fabrication of a novel and highly sensitive electro-analytical biosensor using well characterised commercially available graphene and compare and contrast responses using Nafion -graphene and -graphite modified electrodes. Interestingly we observe that graphite exhibits a superior electrochemical response due to its enhanced percentage of edge plane sites when compared to graphene. However, when Nafion, routinely used in amperometric biosensors, is introduced onto graphene and graphite modified electrodes, re-orientation occurs in both cases which is beneficial in the former and detrimental in the latter; insights into this contrasting behaviour are consequently presented providing acuity into sensor design and development where graphene is utilised in biosensors.     

Determination of Explosives Using Electrochemically Reduced Graphene

A graphene‐based electrochemical sensing platform for sensitive determination of explosive nitroaromatic compounds (NACs) was constructed by means of electrochemical reduction of graphene oxide (GO) on a glassy carbon electrode (GCE). The electrochemically reduced graphene (ER‐GO) adhered strongly onto the GCE surface with a wrinkled morphology that showed a large active surface area. 2,4‐Dinitrotoluene (2,4‐DNT), as a model analyte, was detected by using stripping voltammetry, which gave a low detection limit of 42 nmol L⁻¹ (signal‐to‐noise ratio=3) and a wide linear range from 5.49×10⁻⁷ to 1.1×10⁻⁵ M . Further characterizations by electrochemistry, IR, and Raman spectra confirmed that the greatly improved electrochemical reduction signal of DNT on the ER‐GO‐modified GC electrode could be ascribed to the excellent electrocatalytic activity and high surface‐area‐to‐volume ratio of graphene, and the strong π–π stacking interactions between 2,4‐DNT and the graphene surface. Other explosive nitroaromatic compounds including 1,3‐dinitrobenzene (1,3‐DNB), 2,4,6‐trinitrotoluene (TNT), and 1,3,5‐trinitrobenzene (TNB) could also be detected on the ER‐GO‐modified GC electrode at the nM level. Experimental results showed that electrochemical reduction of GO on the GC electrode was a fast, simple, and controllable method for the construction of a graphene‐modified electrode for sensing NACs and other sensing applications.     

The electrochemical performance of graphene modified electrodes: an analytical perspective

We explore the use of graphene modified electrodes towards the electroanalytical sensing of various analytes, namely dopamine hydrochloride, uric acid, acetaminophen and p-benzoquinone via cyclic voltammetry. In line with literature methodologies and to investigate the full-implications of employing graphene in this electrochemical context, we modify electrode substrates that exhibit either fast or slow electron transfer kinetics (edge- or basal- plane pyrolytic graphite electrodes respectively) with well characterised commercially available graphene that has not been chemically treated, is free from surfactants and as a result of its fabrication has an extremely low oxygen content, allowing the true electroanalytical applicability of graphene to be properly de-convoluted and determined. In comparison to the unmodified underlying electrode substrates (constructed from graphite), we find that graphene exhibits a reduced analytical performance in terms of sensitivity, linearity and observed detection limits towards each of the various analytes studied within. Owing to graphene's structural composition, low proportion of edge plane sites and consequent slow heterogeneous electron transfer rates, there appears to be no advantages, for the analytes studied here, of employing graphene in this electroanalytical context.     

Porous graphene-based electrodes: Advances in electrochemical sensing of environmental contaminants

Extravagant toxins release at an uncontrollable scale due to the continuous embarking of organic and inorganic contaminants has become a severe threat to the ecosystem’s healthy sustainability. The timely monitoring and determination of the environmental contaminants are crucial to take proper steps for environmental remediation. Among advanced nanomaterials, graphene is one of the extensively explored electrode materials for sensing environmental toxins. However, the graphene sheets' agglomeration due to weak wander Waals forces and the π–π interactions compromise its unique inherent features. The integration of graphene into porous structures can facilitate in exploiting its intrinsic properties. Graphene porous network offers highly conductive multiplexed pathways with a well-defined porous structure that provides a better diffusion of the electrolyte along with analytes to encounter the active electrode material. The pores in the 2D sheet or 3D architecture of graphene provide extensive active sites for various analytes' interaction. Rationally designed porous graphene-based materials and nanocomposites are promising advanced electrode materials for trace level quantification of environmental toxins. Herein, we critically discuss the advances in developing the porous graphene and its composites-based electrodes for electrochemical sensing of the environmental toxins.     

Graphene prepared by one-pot solvent exfoliation as a highly sensitive platform for electrochemical sensing

Graphene was easily obtained via one-step ultrasonic exfoliation of graphite powder in N-methyl-2-pyrrolidone. Scanning electron microscopy, transmission electron microscopy, Raman and particle size measurements indicated that the exfoliation efficiency and the amount of produced graphene increased with ultrasonic time. The electrochemical properties and analytical applications of the resulting graphene were systematically studied. Compared with the predominantly-used reduced graphene oxides, the obtained graphene by one-step solvent exfoliation greatly enhanced the oxidation signals of various analytes, such as ascorbic acid (AA), dopamine (DA), uric acid (UA), xanthine (XA), hypoxanthine (HXA), bisphenol A (BPA), ponceau 4R, and sunset yellow. The detection limits of AA, DA, UA, XA, HXA, BPA, ponceau 4R, and sunset yellow were evaluated to be 0.8 μM, 7.5 nM, 2.5 nM, 4 nM, 10 nM, 20 nM, 2 nM, and 1 nM, which are much lower than the reported values. Thus, the prepared graphene via solvent exfoliation strategy displays strong signal amplification ability and holds great promise in constructing a universal and sensitive electrochemical sensing platform.     

Electrochemical Detection of Three Monohydroxylated Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons Using Electroreduced Graphene Oxide Modified Screen‐printed Electrode

An electrochemical sensor for detection of three monohydroxylated polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (OH?PAHs) was fabricated by electrochemical reduction of graphene oxide (E‐rGO) on screen‐printed electrode (SPE). The E‐rGO film presents typical wrinkled structure with porous and cavity‐like nanostructure, providing large surface area, effective π‐electron system and high electrical conductivity. The developed E‐rGO/SPE sensor exhibits outstanding sensing performance for the target OH?PAHs, 2‐hydroxynaphthalene, 3‐hydroxyphenanthrene, and 1‐hydroxypyrene, within a linear range varying from 50–800 nM, 50–1150 nM, and 100–1000 nM, and with a limit of detection (LOD) of 10.1 nM, 15.3 nM, and 20.4 nM (S/N=3), respectively. The electrochemical sensor possesses excellent stability, acceptable reproducibility, and good anti‐interference ability. Additionally, the proposed sensor can be applied to the analysis of OH?PAHs in the urine samples with recoveries of 98.1–105.9 %.     

Sensitive Voltammetric Determination of Baicalein at Thermally Reduced Graphene Oxide Modified Glassy Carbon Electrode

This work presents a sensitive voltammetric method for determination of the flavonoid baicalein by using a thermally reduced graphene oxide (TRGO) modified glassy carbon electrode (GCE) in 100 mM KCl‐10 mM sodium phosphate buffer solution (pH 7.40). The surface morphology and structure of TRGO investigated by atomic force microscopy, FT‐IR spectroscopy and Raman spectroscopy reveal that the TRGO prepared maintained as single or bilayer sheets and with significant edge‐plane‐like defect sites. The TRGO/GCE modified electrode shows more favorable electron transfer kinetics for potassium ferricyanide and potassium ferrocyanide probe molecules, which are important electroactive compounds, compared with bare GCE and GO/GCE electrodes. The electrochemical behaviors of baicalein at the TRGO/GCE were investigated by cyclic voltammetry, suggesting that the TRGO/GCE exhibits excellent electrocatalytic activity to baicalein. Under physiological conditions, the modified electrode showed linear voltammetric response from 10 nM to 10 µM for baicalein, with a detection limit of 6.0 nM. This work demonstrates that the graphene‐modified electrode is a promising tool for electrochemical determination of flavonoid drugs.     

A facile method for preparation of graphene film electrodes with tailor-made dimensions with Vaseline as the insulating binder

This communication describes a facile but effective method to prepare graphene film electrodes with tunable dimensions with Vaseline as the insulating binder. Cyclic voltammetry (CV) studies reveal that the as-prepared graphene film electrodes have tunable dimensions ranging from a conventional electrode to a nanoelectrode ensemble, depending on the amount of graphene dispersed into the insulting Vaseline matrix. A large amount of graphene (typically, 10.0 μg/mL) leads to the formation of the film electrodes with a conventional dimension, while a small amount of graphene (typically, 1.0 μg/mL) essentially yields the graphene film electrodes like a nanoelectrode ensemble. As one new kind of carbon-based film electrodes with tailor-made dimensions and a good electrochemical activity as well as a high stability, the graphene film electrodes are believed to be potentially useful for fundamental electrochemical studies and for practical applications.