Highly Sensitive and Selective Basal Plane Pyrolytic Graphite Electrode Modified with 1,4-Naphthoquinone/MWCNT for Simultaneous Determination of Dopamine, Ascorbate and Urate

Edge and Basal Plane Anisotropy of a Preanodized Pencil Graphite Electrode Surface Revealed Using Scanning Electrochemical Microscopy and Electrocatalytic Dopamine Oxidation as a Molecular Probe

Pencil graphite (PGE), an ultralow-cost and ready-to-use disposable-type electrode, has been used for various electrochemical and electroanalytical applications after its surface anodization (PGE*, * means preanodized surface). Indeed, systematic studies on mechanistic and surface features of PGE* have not yet been explored. Herein, we report anodized pencil graphite as a model system to study molecular level insights into the surface using a scanning electrochemical microscopy (SECM) technique and dopamine (DA) electrocatalytic oxidation reaction as a molecular probe. The as-prepared PGE* showed an appreciable electronic conductivity similar to the edge-plane graphitic sites (EPPG) of the highly pyrolytic graphitic electrode (HOPG) but without any surface deterioration that occurs with HOPG due to the instability of the EPPG. Physicochemical characterizations by FESEM, FTIR, Raman, and XPS techniques revealed a flake-like exfoliated PGE* surface with higher contents of carbon-oxygen especially phenolic/alcoholic functional groups than the PGE surface. Based on the chronocoulometric experiment, the number of functional groups formed on the PGE* was calculated as 10.9 × 10-10 mol cm-2. An independent SECM technique using ferricyanide as a redox probe showed the existence of a heterogeneous surface and exhibited an improved electron transfer activity due to the flake-like graphitic island on the PGE* surface. Investigated DA electrochemical oxidation on PGE* yielded about three times enhancement in the peak current signal and about 200 mV reduction in the oxidation potential over the PGE without any serious surface fouling feature that is related to the intermediate polydopamine formation on the basal-plane graphitic surface of the underlying electrode. As an independent electroanalytical study, a prototype electrochemical sensor using PGE* as a working electrode for instant detection of DA-containing pharmaceutical samples in a 1 mL Eppendorf vial has been demonstrated.

Screen-Printable Functional Nanomaterials for Flexible and Wearable Single-Enzyme-Based Energy-Harvesting and Self-Powered Biosensing Devices

Developing flexible bioelectronics is essential to the realization of artificial intelligence devices and biomedical applications, such as wearables, but their potential is limited by sustainable energy supply. An enzymatic biofuel cell (BFC) is promising for power supply, but its use is limited by the challenges of incorporating multiple enzymes and rigid platforms. This paper shows the first example of screen-printable nanocomposite inks engineered for a single-enzyme-based energy-harvesting device and a self-powered biosensor driven by glucose on bioanode and biocathode. The anode ink is modified with naphthoquinone and multiwalled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs), whereas the cathode ink is modified with Prussian blue/MWCNT hybrid before immobilizing with glucose oxidase. The flexible bioanode and the biocathode consume glucose. This BFC yields an open circuit voltage of 0.45 V and a maximum power density of 266 μW cm-2. The wearable device coupled with a wireless portable system can convert chemical energy into electric energy and detect glucose in artificial sweat. The self-powered sensor can detect glucose concentrations up to 10 mM. Common interfering substances, including lactate, uric acid, ascorbic acid, and creatinine, have no effect on this self-powered biosensor. Additionally, the device can endure multiple mechanical deformations. New advances in ink development and flexible platforms enable a wide range of applications, including on-body electronics, self-sustainable applications, and smart fabrics.

Three-Dimensional Au/Holey-Graphene as Efficient Electrochemical Interface for Simultaneous Determination of Ascorbic Acid, Dopamine and Uric Acid

The quantification of ascorbic acid (AA), dopamine (DA), and uric acid (UA) has been an important area of research, as these molecules’ determination directly corresponds to the diagnosis and control of diseases of nerve and brain physiology. In our research, graphene oxide (GO) with nano pores deposited with gold nanoparticles were self-assembled to form three-dimensional (3D) Au/holey-graphene oxide (Au/HGO) composite structures. The as-prepared 3DAu/HGO composite structures were characterized for their structures by X-ray diffraction, Raman spectrum, scanning electron microscopy, and transmission electron microscopy coupled with cyclic voltammograms. Finally, the proposed 3DAu/HGO displayed high sensitivity, excellent electron transport properties, and selectivity for the simultaneous electrochemical determination of AA, DA and UA with linear response ranges of 1.0–500 μM, 0.01–50 μM and 0.05–50 μM respectively. This finding paves the way for graphene applications as a biosensor for detecting three analytes in human serum.