Controlling assembly-induced single layer RGO to achieve highly sensitive electrochemical detection of Pb(II) via synergistic enhancement

Recent advances in the modification of electrodes for trace metal analysis: a review

This review paper summarizes the research published in the last five years on using different compounds and/or materials as modifiers for electrodes employed in trace heavy metal analysis. The main groups of modifiers are identified, and their single or combined application on the surface of the electrodes is discussed. Nanomaterials, film-forming substances, and polymers are among the most used compounds employed mainly in the modification of glassy carbon, screen-printed, and carbon paste electrodes. Composites composed of several compounds and/or materials have also found growing interest in the development of modified electrodes. Environmentally friendly substances and natural products (mainly biopolymers and plant extracts) have continued to be included in the modification of electrodes for trace heavy metal analysis. The main analytical performance parameters of the modified electrodes as well as possible interferences affecting the determination of the target analytes, are discussed. Finally, a critical evaluation of the main findings from these studies and an outlook discussing possible improvements in this area of research are presented.

Novel polyamide/silica/chitosan covalent hybrid: One-step BIC/sol-gel preparation at room temperature and dual applications in Hg2+ electrochemical probing and dye adsorption

Room-temperature preparation of polymer-based covalent hybrids, which with multiple functional characteristics, is instrumental to overcome the performance shortcomings of single-polymer materials and broaden their applications thus. Herein, by introducing chitosan (CS) as a starting substrate into benzoxazine-isocyanide chemistry (BIC)/sol-gel reaction system, a novel polyamide (PA)/SiO₂/CS covalent hybrid (PA-Si-CS) was successfully prepared in-situ at 30 °C. PA-Si-CS's chemical structure and elementary properties were characterized here. The introduction of CS combining with the presence of diverse N, O-containing segments (amide, phenol -OH, Si-OH, etc.) in PA-Si-CS provided its synergistic adsorption for Hg²⁺ and anionic dye Congo red (CR). The capture of PA-Si-CS for Hg²⁺ was rationally applied to the "enrichment"-type electrochemical probing of Hg²⁺. Relevant detection range, detection limit, interference, and probing mechanism were systematically analyzed. Compared with the experimental results of control electrodes, the electrode modified with PA-Si-CS (PA-Si-CS/GCE) showed a significantly enhanced electrochemical response to Hg²⁺, with a detection limit up to ~2.2 × 10^-8 mol/L. In addition, PA-Si-CS also exhibited the specific adsorption for CR. Systematic analyses of dye adsorption selectivity, kinetics, isothermal models, thermodynamics, and adsorption mechanism told that PA-Si-CS can be used as an efficient CR adsorbent, with a maximum adsorption capacity of ~348 mg/g.

Facile Synthesis of Hollow Fe3O4-rGO Nanocomposites for the Electrochemical Detection of Acetaminophen

Acetaminophen (AC) is one of the most popular pharmacologically active substances used as an analgesic and antipyretic drug. Herein, a new type of hollow Fe₃O₄-rGO/GCE electrode was prepared for electrochemical detection of AC through a three-step approach involving a solvothermal method for the synthesis of hollow Fe₃O₄ and the chemical reduction of graphene oxide (GO) for reduced graphene oxide (rGO) and Fe₃O₄-rGO nanocomposites modified on the glassy carbon electrode (GCE) surface. The as-prepared Fe₃O₄-rGO nanocomposites were characterized using a transmission electron microscope (TEM), X-ray diffraction (XRD), and a magnetic measurement system (SQUID-VSM). The magnetic Fe₃O₄-rGO/GCE electrodes were employed for the electrochemical detection of AC using cyclic voltammetry (CV), electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS), and square wave voltammetry (SWV) and exhibited an ultra-high selectivity and accuracy, a low detection limit of 0.11 µmol/L with a wider linear range from 5 × 10^-7 to 10^-4 mol/L, and high recovery between 100.52% and 101.43%. The obtained Fe₃O₄-rGO-modified GCE displays great practical significance for the detection of AC in drug analysis.

Titanium lanthanum three oxides decorated magnetic graphene oxide for adsorption of lead ions from aqueous media

The current study presents a viable and straightforward method for synthesizing titanium lanthanum three oxide nanoparticles (TiLa) and their decoration onto the ferrous graphene oxide sheets to produce FeGO-TiLa as efficient magnetic adsorbent. Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDX), and vibration sample magnetometer (VSM) were used to evaluate the physical and chemical properties of the produced nanocomposites. The FeGO-TiLa was used to enhance the removal of lead ions from aqueous solution. The FeGO-TiLa nanocomposite exhibited a much higher removal efficiency (93%) for lead ions than pure TiLa nanoparticles (81%) and magnetic graphene oxide (74%). The influence of FeGO-TiLa dosage, contact time, solution pH, solution temperature, and starting quantity on the lead ions was evaluated and adjusted. The investigations demonstrated that a pH 6 with 40 mg adsorbent resulted in >91% removal of lead ions at ambient temperature after 120 min. Isotherm models were used to analyze experimental results, and Langmuir model fitted the data well as compared Freundlich model with a maximum adsorption capacity of 109.89 mg g^-1. Kinetic and studies are performed the lead adsorption over FeGO-TiLa follow pseudo-second-order rate. Langmuir and Free energy suggested the lead ions uptake with FeGO-TiLa was monolayer and physical adsorption mechnaism, respectively. Finally, the FeGO-TiLa nanocompoiste can be used as an alternative adsorbent for water remediation.

Non-enzymatic electrochemical detection of glucose using Ni-Cu bimetallic alloy nanoparticles loaded on reduced graphene oxide through a one-step synthesis strategy

In this work, Ni-Cu bimetallic alloy nanoparticles supported on reduced graphene oxide (Ni-Cu ANPs/RGO) was successfully fabricated through a one-step hydrothermal synthesis method, where simultaneous reduction of graphene oxide, nickel salt and copper salt was performed, and relevant characterization studies were executed. This synthetic method does not require surfactants and high temperature treatment, and is recommended as a green, convenient and effective way to produce composites. The unique two-dimensional architecture of the RGO provides a large specific surface area, contributing to loading more Ni-Cu ANPs, while the uniformly distributed Ni-Cu bimetallic alloy nanoparticles enhance the electrocatalytic performance of glucose oxidation. The non-enzymatic glucose biosensor based on Ni-Cu ANPs/RGO showed a wide linear range (from 0.01 μM to 30 μM), low detection limit (0.005 μM), and excellent sensitivity (1754.72 μA mM^-1 cm^-2). More importantly, the high reliability and the excellent selectivity in actual sample detection will broaden its practical application in electrochemical sensing.