Electrochemical sensing performance of two CuO nanomaterial-modified dual-working electrodes

Two CuO nanostructures, namely, nanospheres (CuONSs) and nanochains (CuONCs) with different shapes but similar diameters, were synthesized and characterized. With these two nanomaterials as electrode modifiers, a systematic comparative study was conducted to examine their electrochemical sensing of catechol (CT) using a dual-working electrode system. The results suggest that for CuONS- and CuONC-modified glassy carbon electrodes, the electrode process for the CT redox is diffusion-controlled, and the modification amount and electrolyte pH have a similar effect on the response. However, the CuONCs showed a higher peak current and lower peak potential, as well as a lower detection limit for the electrochemical oxidation of CT. This is explained by the lower charge transfer impedance and higher electroactive surface area of the CuONCs. Notably, an unexpected peak appeared in the cyclic voltammograms when the pH was <4 for the CuONCs and <3 for the CuONSs. For this phenomenon, UV-Vis spectra, zeta potential, and size distribution experiments demonstrated changes in the two CuO nanostructures at lower pH, illustrating that CuONSs can tolerate a higher pH as compared to CuONCs. The multiple comparisons between the two nanomaterials presented here can provide references for the selection of electrochemical sensing materials.

Subtle adjustment of the cyclic potential on electro-activated glassy carbon electrodes for sensitive sensing of methyl parathion

Facile electro-activated glassy carbon electrodes (e-GCEs), which are prepared in electrolyte solution with a certain potential for a few seconds, have been verified to improve analytical performance toward not a few electro-active molecules recently. Nevertheless, how and why the potential plays an important role is not clear, and has even not received enough consideration. In this paper, we found that the mode and the range of applied potential significantly impacted the sensitivity of methyl parathion (MP), which is a typical pesticide with the electro-active group of -NO2. Compared with constant potential, the e-GCE with cyclic potential provided a much more stable baseline during MP detection. Additionally, the electro-oxidation peak current of MP at around -0.1 V on it was higher than another changeable potential (constant current). What's more interesting, with cyclic potential for 50 segments from -2 to 1.5 V, the peak current value increased by 30 times in comparison with a bare GCE, but only 2 times from -2 to 1 V. Then after systematic investigation including structures of the electrode surface and functional groups, we speculated that the produced group of O-CO in the process of activation and remaining groups of C-O and CO on the bare GCE surface are beneficial for adsorbing MP molecules leading to enhanced peak current. Employing the proposed e-GCE, the limit of detection of MP reached 0.015 μM and the reproducibility was perfect. This work elucidates the potent impact of electro-activation potential parameters on electroanalysis behaviors.

Electrochemical Detection of Dihydroxybenzene Isomers at a Pencil Graphite Based Electrode

In this work, an HB pencil electrode (HBPE) was electrochemically modified by amino acids (AAs) glycine (GLY) and aspartic acid (ASA) and designated as GLY-HB and ASA-HB electrodes. They were used in the detection of dihydroxybenzene isomers (DHBIs) such as hydroquinone (HQ), catechol (CC), and resorcinol (RS), by cyclic voltammetry (CV), and by differential pulse voltammetry. HBPE was characterized by scanning electron microscopy and energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy. These three electrodes showed a linear relationship of current with concentration of DHBIs, and the electrochemical processes were diffusion controlled in all cases. In simultaneous detection, the limit of detection, based on signal-to-noise ratio (S/N = 3), for HQ, CC, and RS was 12.473, 16.132, and 25.25 μM, respectively, at bare HBPE; 5.498, 7.119, and 14.794 μM, respectively, at GLY-HB; and 22.459, 25.478, and 38.303 μM, respectively, at ASA-HB. The sensitivity for HQ, CC, and RS was 470.481, 363.781, and 232.416 μA/mM/cm², respectively, at bare HBPE; 364.785, 282.712, and 135.560 μA/mM/cm², respectively, at GLY-HB; and 374.483, 330.108, and 219.574, respectively, at ASA-HB. The interference studies clarified the suitability and reliability of the electrodes for the detection of HQ, CC, and RS in an environmental system. Real sample analysis was done using tap water, and the proposed electrodes expressed recovery with high reproducibility. Meanwhile, these three electrodes have excellent sensitivity and selectivity, which can be used as a promising technique for the detection of DHBIs simultaneously.

Ultrasensitive and Selective Detection of Glutathione by Ammonium Carbamate-Gold Platinum Nanoparticles-Based Electrochemical Sensor

Determining the concentration of glutathione is crucial for developing workable medical diagnostic strategies. In this paper, we developed an electrochemical sensor by electrodepositing amino-based reactive groups and gold–platinum nanomaterials on the surface of glassy carbon electrode successively. The sensor was characterized by cyclic voltammetry (CV), field emission scanning electron microscope (FESEM), energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDX), and electrochemical impedance spectra (EIS). Results showed that Au@Pt nanoparticles with the size of 20–40 nm were presented on the surface of electrode. The sensor exhibits excellent electrocatalytic oxidation towards glutathione. Based on this, we devised an electrochemical biosensor for rapid and sensitive detection of glutathione. After optimizing experimental and operational conditions, a linear response for the concentration of GSH, in the range of 0.1–11 μmol/L, with low detection and quantification limits of 0.051 μM (S/N = 3), were obtained. The sensor also exhibits superior selectivity, reproducibility, low cost, as well as simple preparation and can be applied in human serum sample detection.

Cobalt Oxide Nanorod-Modified GCE as Sensitive Electrodes for Simultaneous Detection of Hydroquinone and Catechol

An electrochemical sensor based on a cobalt oxide nanorod (Co3O4NR) modified glassy carbon electrode (GCE) (Co3O4NR-GCE) was prepared for simultaneous and selective determination of hydroquinone (HQ) and catechol (CT). Surface morphology and crystallinity of Co3O4NR were investigated employing field emission scanning electron microscopy (FESEM) and X-ray diffraction (XRD) analysis. The structure (16 nm) of the Co3O4 nanorod was observed in the FESEM image. A sharp peak pattern in the XRD survey revealed the following crystal planes in Co3O4NR material: (111), (220), (311), (222), (400), (422), (511), and (440). Electrochemical characterization of modified Co3O4NR-GCE was carried out performing cyclic voltammetry (CV) and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS). Selective and simultaneous detection of HQ and CT was carried out by performing CV and differential pulse voltammetry (DPV) analysis. In both studies, modified Co3O4NR-GCE showed well defined oxidation and reduction peaks for HQ and CT with enhanced peak current, and the oxidation peaks for HQ and CT were observed at 0.152 V and 0.254 V, respectively, in the CV analysis. Scan rate and pH variation analysis were performed to evaluate different kinetic parameters, including charge transfer coefficient (α = 0.56 for HQ and 0.66 for CT), heterogeneous charge transfer rate constant (ks = 56 for HQ and 72 for CT), and the number of electrons involved in HQ and CT oxidation. Quantitative analysis of HQ and CT was studied by observing the current response of DPV analysis with respect to concentration variation. Here, the detection limit was calculated as 0.2 µM for HQ with a linear concentration range of 5–200 µM, and 0.4 µM for CT with a linear concentration range of 5–150 µM. The practical applicability of the proposed sensor was investigated using sample solutions prepared in tap water. The reported sensor showed impressive selectivity towards HQ and CT in the presence of common interferents.

A colorimetric detection strategy and micromotor-assisted photo-Fenton like degradation for hydroquinone based on the peroxidase-like activity of Co3O4–CeO2 nanocages

Co3O4–CeO2 micromotors were fabricated and the colorimetric detection and micromotor-assisted photodegradation capability were studied.

Amperometric Sulfite Sensor Using Electrodecorated Pt Particles onto an Aminated Glassy Carbon Electrode Prepared by Stepwise Electrolysis

A novel modified glassy carbon electrode with platinum (Pt)-electrodecorated and nitrogen-containing functional groups was prepared by stepwise electrolysis. The prepared electrode exhibited electrocatalytic activity towards sulfite oxidation that was better than that of a bare glassy carbon electrode. The electrocatalytic activity of sulfite oxidation has been applied to an amperometric sulfite sensor. A favorable linear relationship between the current response (ΔI) and the sulfite concentration up to 500 μM was exhibited. The detection limit was estimated to be 3 μM based on the criterion of a signal-to-noise (S/N) ratio of 3 under optimized conditions. In regards to the reproducibility, the RSD (n = 10) was 8.9% for 80 μM sulfite.

Highly sensitive detection of rutin in pharmaceuticals and human serum using ITO electrodes modified with vertically-ordered mesoporous silica–graphene nanocomposite films

A vertically-ordered silica–graphene nanocomposite film modified transparent ITO electrode was prepared by a one-step electrodeposition method for antifouling detection of rutin in pharmaceuticals and human serum.

Ecofriendly preparation of graphene sheets decorated with an ethylenediamine copper(ii) complex composite modified electrode for the selective detection of hydroquinone in water

A reduced graphene oxide decorated copper(ii) ethylenediamine complex composite modified electrode was applied for the electrochemical determination of hydroquinone.

Synthesis of a functionalized multi-walled carbon nanotube decorated ruskin michelle-like ZnO nanocomposite and its application in the development of a highly sensitive hydroquinone sensor

Electrochemical determination of hydroquinone based on a f-MWCNT decorated ruskin michelle-like ZnO nanocomposite.

Hierarchical Self-Assembly of Cyclodextrin and Dimethylamino-Substituted Arylene-Ethynylene on N-doped Graphene for Synergistically Enhanced Electrochemical Sensing of Dihydroxybenzene Isomers

An electrochemically active sensing nanomaterial (denoted as CD-MPEA-NG) has been successfully constructed by an hierarchical self-assembly of cyclodextrin (CD) and N,N-dimethyl-4-(phenylethynyl)aniline (MPEA) on N-doped graphene (NG) in a low-temperature hydrothermal process. The unique nanostructure of the high-performance CD-MPEA-NG was confirmed by utilizing Fourier transform infrared spectra, an X-ray diffractometer, and differential pulse voltammetry (DPV), etc. In particular, the method of density functional theory with dispersion energy (DFT-D) of wB97XD/LanL2DZ was employed to optimize and describe the face-to-face packing structure of heterodimers of NG and MPEA. The CD-MPEA-NG sensor exhibits highly sensitive performance toward dihydroxybenzene isomers, without relying on expensive noble metal or a complicated preparation process. The experimental results demonstrate that given the synergistic effect of NG and MPEA as a coupled sensing platform, CD as a supramolecular cavity can significantly enhance the electrochemical response. The detection limits (S/N = 3) for catechol (CT), resorcinol (RS), and hydroquinone (HQ) are 0.008, 0.018, and 0.011 μM by DPV, respectively. Besides, the CD-MPEA-NG sensor shows a superb anti-interference, reproducibility, and stability, and satisfactory recovery aimed at detecting isomers in Nanjing River water. The encouraging performance as well as simplified preparation approach strongly support the CD-MPEA-NG sensor is a fascinating electrode to develop as a seamless and sensitive electroanalytical technique.

Synthesis of Polydopamine Functionalized Reduced Graphene Oxide-Palladium Nanocomposite for Laccase Based Biosensor

Graphene based 2D nanomaterials have attracted increasing attention in biosensing application due to the outstanding physicochemical properties of graphene. In this work, palladium nanoparticles (Pd) loaded reduced graphene oxide (rGO) hybrid (rGO-Pd) was synthesized through a facile method. Laccase (Lac) was immobilized on rGO-Pd by utilizing the self-polymerization of dopamine, which generated polydopamine (PDA). The PDA-Lac-rGO-Pd nanocomposites were further modified on electrode surface to construct novel biosensing platform. The obtained electrochemical biosensor was applied in the detection of catechol, achieving excellent analytic results. Under the optimum condition, this biosensor possessed a linear range from 0.1 µM to 263 µM for catechol detection, the sensitivity reached 18.4 µA mM⁻¹, and the detection limit was as low as 0.03 µM. In addition, the biosensor also showed good repeatability, reproducibility, anti-interference, and stability. Moreover, the novel Lac based biosensor was successfully used in the trace detection of catechol existing in real water environment.

Selective electrochemical detection of hydroquinone and catechol at a one-step synthesised pine needle-like nano-CePO4 modified carbon paste electrode

A pine needle-like nano-CePO₄ modified carbon paste electrode was successfully constructed for simultaneous detection of hydroquinone and catechol sensitively and selectively.

Microwave-assisted synthesis of carbon dots–zinc oxide/multi-walled carbon nanotubes and their application in electrochemical sensors for the simultaneous determination of hydroquinone and catechol

Cyclic voltammetry of HQ and CC recorded on Nafion/CDs–ZnO/MWCNTs/GCE.