Electrochemical Properties of Phytosynthesized Gold Nanoparticles for Electrosensing

Gold nanoparticles are widely used in electrosensing. The current trend is to phytosynthesize gold nanoparticles (phyto-AuNPs) on the basis of the “green” chemistry approach. Phyto-AuNPs are biologically and catalytically active, stable and biocompatible, which opens up broad perspectives in a variety of applications, including tactile, wearable (bio)sensors. However, the electrochemistry of phytosynthesized nanoparticles is not sufficiently studied. This work offers a comprehensive study of the electrochemical activity of phyto-AuNPs depending on the synthesis conditions. It was found that with an increase in the aliquot of the plant extract, its antioxidant activity (AOA) and pH, the electrochemical activity of phyto-AuNPs grows, which is reflected in the peak potential decrease and an increase in the peak current of phyto-AuNPs electrooxidation. It has been shown that AOA is an important parameter for obtaining phyto-AuNPs with desired properties. Electrodes modified with phyto-AuNPs have demonstrated better analytical characteristics than electrodes with citrate AuNPs in detecting uric and ascorbic acids under model conditions. The data about the phyto-AuNPs’ electrochemistry may be useful for creating highly effective epidermal sensors with good biocompatibility.

Tuning Electrocatalytic Aptitude by Incorporating α-MnO2 Nanorods in Cu-MOF/rGO/CuO Hybrids: Electrochemical Sensing of Resorcinol for Practical Applications

In this study, Cu-MOF/rGO/CuO/α-MnO₂ nanocomposites have been fabricated by a one-step hydrothermal method and used in the voltammetric detection of resorcinol (RS). The poor conductivity of MOFs in the field of electrochemical sensing is still a major challenge. A series of Cu-MOF/rGO/CuO/α-MnO₂ nanocomposites have been synthesized with varying fractions of rGO and with a fixed amount of α-MnO₂ via a facile method. These nanocomposites are well characterized using some sophisticated characterization techniques. The as-prepared nanohybrids have strongly promoted the redox reactions at the electrode surface due to their synergistic effects of improved conductivity, high electrocatalytic activity, an enlarged specific surface area, and a plethora of nanoscale level interfacial collaborations. The electrode modified with Cu-MOF/rGO/CuO/α-MnO₂ has revealed superior electrochemical properties demonstrating linear differential pulse voltammetry (DPV) responses from a 0.2 to 22 μM RS concentration range (R² = 0.999). The overall results of this sensing podium have shown excellent stability, good recovery, and a low detection limit of 0.2 μM. With excellent sensing performance achieved, the practicability of the sensor has been evaluated to detect RS in commercial hair color samples as well as in tap water and river water samples. Therefore, we envision that our hybrid nanostructures synthesized by the structural integration strategy will open new horizons in material synthesis and biosensing platforms.

A three-electrode integrated electrochemical platform based on nanoporous gold for the simultaneous determination of hydroquinone and catechol with high selectivity

A novel integrated electrochemical platform was built for the simultaneous determination of hydroquinone and catechol.

Ultrasensitive voltammetric detection of benzenediol isomers using reduced graphene oxide-azo dye decorated with gold nanoparticles

The detection of phenolic compounds, i.e. resorcinol (RC) catechol (CC) and hydroquinone (HQ) are important due to their extremely hazardous impact and poor environmental degradation. In this work, a novel and sensitive composite of electrochemically reduced graphene oxide-poly(Procion Red MX-5B)/gold nanoparticles modified glassy carbon electrode (GCE/ERGO-poly(PR)/AuNPs) was assembled for voltammetric detection of benzenediol isomers (RC, CC, and HQ). The nanocomposite displayed high peak currents towards the oxidation of RC, HQ, and CC compared to non-modified GCE. The peak-to-peak separations were 0.44 and 0.10 V for RC-CC and CC-HQ, respectively. The limit of detections were 53, 53, and 79 nM for HQ, CC, and RC with sensitivities of 4.61, 4.38, and 0.56 μA/μM (S/N = 3), respectively. The nanocomposite displayed adequate reproducibility, besides good stability and acceptable recoveries for wastewater and cosmetic samples analyses.

Electrochemical (bio) sensors go green

Electrochemical (bio) sensors are now widely acknowledged as a sensitive detection tool for disease diagnosis as well as the detection of numerous species of pharmaceutical, clinical, industrial, food, and environmental origin. The term 'green' demonstrates the development of electrochemical (bio) sensing platforms utilizing biodegradable and sustainable materials. Development of green sensing platforms is one of the most active areas of research minimizing the use of toxic/hazardous reagents and solvent systems, thereby further reducing the production of chemical wastes in sensor fabrication. The present review includes green electrochemical (bio) sensors which are based on firstly, green sensors comprising natural and non-hazardous materials (e.g., paper/clay/zeolites/biowastes), secondly sensors based on nanomaterials synthesized by green methods and lastly sensors constituting green solvents (e.g., ionic liquids/deep eutectic solvents). Electrochemical performances of such green sensors and their benefits such as biodegradability, non-toxicity, sustainability, low-cost, sensitive surfaces, etc. Have been discussed for quantification of various target analytes. Associated challenges, possible solutions, and opportunities towards fabricating green electrochemical sensors and biosensors have been provided in the conclusion section.

Nanomaterials: Electrochemical Properties and Application in Sensors

The unique properties of nanoparticles make them an extremely valuable modifying material, being used in electrochemical sensors. The features of nanoparticles affect the kinetics and thermodynamics of electrode processes of both nanoparticles and redox reactions occurring on their surface. The paper describes theoretical background and experimental studies of these processes. During the transition from macro- to micro- and nanostructures, the analytical characteristics of sensors modify. These features of metal nanoparticles are related to their size and energy effects, which affects the analytical characteristics of developed sensors. Modification of the macroelectrode with nanoparticles and other nanomaterials reduces the detection limit and improves the degree of sensitivity and selectivity of measurements. The use of nanoparticles as transducers, catalytic constituents, parts of electrochemical sensors for antioxidant detection, adsorbents, analyte transporters, and labels in electrochemical immunosensors and signal-generating elements is described.