Thermally reduced graphene/nafion modified platinum disk electrode for trace level electrochemical detection of iron

Advances in the determination of trace amounts of iron cations through electrochemical methods: A comprehensive review of principles and their limits of detection

Quantification of trace amounts of iron is of great importance in various fields. In the industrial sector, it is crucial to monitor the release of iron out of corrosion, pickling treatment, and steel manufacturing to address potential environmental and economic challenges. In biological systems, despite its indispensability, it is essential to maintain iron concentration below a specific threshold. Electrochemical (EC) methods provide significant analytical capabilities due to their simplicity, ease of use, and cost-effectiveness. This review focuses on the fundamental principles of EC methods for iron detection, including potentiometry, amperometry, coulometry, voltammetry, and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS). It further explains the process of obtaining calibration curves, and subsequently, determining the concentration of unknown ions. Additionally, technical notes are presented on selecting the initial signal value, reducing the duration of tests, excluding non-faradaic signals, and extending the linear region with the lowest detection limit. These notes are supported by key findings from relevant case studies.

In Situ Preparation of Metallic Copper Nanosheets/Carbon Paper Sensitive Electrodes for Low-Potential Electrochemical Detection of Nitrite

In the realm of electrochemical nitrite detection, the potent oxidizing nature of nitrite typically necessitates operation at high detection potentials. However, this study introduces a novel approach to address this challenge by developing a highly sensitive electrochemical sensor with a low reduction detection potential. Specifically, a copper metal nanosheet/carbon paper sensitive electrode (Cu/CP) was fabricated using a one-step electrodeposition method, leveraging the catalytic reduction properties of copper's high occupancy d-orbital. The Cu/CP sensor exhibited remarkable performance in nitrite detection, featuring a low detection potential of -0.05 V vs. Hg/HgO, a wide linear range of 10~1000 μM, an impressive detection limit of 0.079 μM (S/N = 3), and a high sensitivity of 2140 μA mM-1cm-2. These findings underscore the efficacy of electrochemical nitrite detection through catalytic reduction as a means to reduce the operational voltage of the sensor. By showcasing the successful implementation of this strategy, this work sets a valuable precedent for the advancement of electrochemical low-potential nitrite detection methodologies.

Innovative Graphene-Based Nanocomposites for Improvement of Electrochemical Sensors: Synthesis, Characterization, and Applications

Graphene, renowned for its exceptional physicochemical attributes, has emerged as a favored substrate for integrating a wide array of inorganic and organic materials in scientific endeavors and innovations. Electrochemical graphene-based nanocomposite sensors have been developed by incorporating diverse nanoparticles into graphene, effectively immobilized onto electrodes through various techniques. These graphene-based nanocomposite sensors have effectively detected and quantified various electroactive species in samples. This review delves into using graphene nanocomposites to fabricate electrochemical sensors, leveraging the exceptional electrical, mechanical, and thermal properties inherent to graphene derivatives. These nanocomposites showcase electrocatalytic activity, substantial surface area, superior electrical conductivity, adsorption capabilities, and notable porosity, which are highly advantageous for sensing applications. A myriad of characterization techniques, including Raman spectroscopy, scanning electron microscopy (SEM), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), BET surface area analysis, and X-ray diffraction (XRD), have proven effective in exploring the properties of graphene nanocomposites and validating the adjustable formation of these nanomaterials with graphene. The applicability of these sensors across various matrices, encompassing environmental, food, and biological domains, has been evaluated through electrochemical measurements, such as cyclic voltammetry (CV), electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS), and differential pulse voltammetry (DPV). This review provides a comprehensive overview of synthesis methods, characterization techniques, and sensor applications pertinent to graphene-based nanocomposites. Furthermore, it deliberates on the challenges and future prospects within this burgeoning field.

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.

Determination of trace amount of iron cations using electrochemical methods at N, S doped GQD modified electrode

In this work, nitrogen and sulfur co-doped graphene quantum dot-modified glassy carbon electrodes (N, S-GQD/GCE) were used for the recognition of iron cations in aqueous solutions. The dissolved cations are detected based on the faradaic reduction or oxidation current of Fe(III) and Fe(II) obtained at the N, S-GQD/GCE surface. Cyclic voltammetry (CV), square wave voltammetry (SWV), and hydrodynamic amperometry are used as suitable electrochemical techniques for studying electrochemical behavior and determination of Fe cations. Based on the obtained results, it is concluded that the presence of free electrons in the structure of N, S-GQD could facilitate electron transfer reaction between Fe(III) and electrode surface which with increased surface area results in increased sensitivity and lower limit of detection. By performing suitable experiments, the best condition for preparing the modified electrode and determining Fe(III) was selected. Under optimized conditions, the amperometric response is linear from 1 to 100 nM of Fe(III) with a detection limit of 0.23 nM. The validity of the method and applicability of the sensor is successfully tested by the determination of Fe(III) in drug and water real samples. This sensor opened a new platform based on doped nanoparticles for highly sensitive and selective detection of analytes.

Screen-printed Gold Electrode Functionalized with Deferoxamine for Iron(III) Detection

Deferoxamine (DFO), a hydroxamic siderophore with a high affinity for Fe(III), is immobilized as a functionalized self-assembled monolayer of a thiol (SAM) on the gold surface of a screen-printed cell to develop a voltammetric sensor for iron(III). The surface of the working electrode was characterized, before and after functionalization, by determining surface properties such as the area and the double-layer capacitance. The Fe(III) detection was performed by DPV analysis after preconcentration of the cation at the open circuit potential in solution at pH = 1 for two minutes. The method was applied to the iron(III) quantification in water samples giving promising results.

Laser-scribed Graphene Electrodes Functionalized with Nafion/Fe3O4 Nanohybrids for the Ultrasensitive Detection of Neurotoxin Drug Clioquinol

The analysis of pharmaceutical active ingredients plays an important role in quality control and clinical trials because they have a significant physiological effect on the human body even at low concentrations. Herein, a flexible three-electrode system using laser-scribed graphene (LSG) technology, which consists of Nafion/Fe₃O₄ nanohybrids immobilized on LSG as the working electrode and LSG counter and reference electrodes on a single polyimide film, is presented. A Nafion/Fe₃O₄/LSG electrode is constructed by drop coating a solution of Nafion/Fe₃O₄, which is electrostatically self-assembled between positively charged Fe₃O₄ and negatively charged Nafion on the LSG electrode and is used for the first time to determine a neurotoxicity drug (clioquinol; CQL) in biological samples. Owing to their porous 3D structure, an enriched surface area at the active edges and polar groups (OH, COOH, and -SO₃H) in Nafion/Fe₃O₄/LSG electrodes resulted in excellent wettability to facilitate electrolyte diffusion, which gave ∼twofold enhancement in electrocatalytic activity over LSG electrodes. The experimental parameters affecting the analytical performance were investigated. The quantification of clioquinol on the Nafion/Fe₃O₄/LSG electrode surface was examined using differential pulse voltammetry and chronoamperometry techniques. The fabricated sensor displays preferable sensitivity (17.4 μA μM^-1 cm^-2), a wide linear range (1 nM to 100 μM), a very low detection limit (0.73 nM), and acceptable selectivity toward quantitative analysis of CQL. Furthermore, the reliability of the sensor was checked by CQL detection in spiked human blood serum and urine samples, and satisfactory recoveries were obtained.

Photothermal-enhanced peroxidase-like activity of CDs/PBNPs for the detection of Fe3+ and cholesterol in serum samples

Carbon dots/Prussian blue nanoparticles (CDs/PBNPs) with fluorescence (FL) performance and peroxidase-like activity are synthesized by a simple two-step method. The FL of CDs/PBNPs can be effectively quenched by Fe³⁺. Fe³⁺ can accelerate the peroxidase-like activity of CDs/PBNPs. More excitingly, the peroxidase-like activity of CDs/PBNPs could be further enhanced due to the influence of the photothermal effect. Based on the FL property and enhanced peroxidase-like activity, a cascade strategy is proposed for detection of Fe³⁺ and free cholesterol. CD/PBNPs act as FL probe for detection of Fe³⁺. The enhanced peroxidase-like activity of CDs/PBNPs can also be used as colorimetric probe for the detection of free cholesterol. The detection ranges of Fe³⁺ and free cholesterol are 4-128 μM and 2-39 μM, and the corresponding limit of detections are 2.0 μM and 1.63 μM, respectively. The proposed strategy has been verified by the feasibility determination of Fe³⁺ and free cholesterol, suggesting its potential in the prediction of disease.