Can solvent induced surface modifications applied to screen-printed platforms enhance their electroanalytical performance?

Functionalization of Screen-Printed Sensors with a High Reactivity Carbonaceous Material for Ascorbic Acid Detection in Fresh-Cut Fruit with Low Vitamin C Content

In this study, carbon screen-printed sensors (C-SPEs) were functionalized with a high reactivity carbonaceous material (HRCM) to measure the ascorbic acid (AA) concentration in fresh-cut fruit (i.e., watermelon and apple) with a low content of vitamin C. HRCM and the functionalized working electrodes (WEs) were characterized by SEM and TEM. The increases in the electroactive area and in the diffusion of AA molecules towards the WE surface were evaluated by cyclic voltammetry (CV) and chronoamperometry. The performance of HRCM-SPEs were evaluated by CV and constant potential amperometry compared with the non-functionalized C-SPEs and MW-SPEs nanostructured with multi-walled carbon nanotubes. The results indicated that SPEs functionalized with 5 mg/mL of HRCM and 10 mg/mL of MWCNTs had the best performances. HRCM and MWCNTs increased the electroactive area by 1.2 and 1.4 times, respectively, whereas, after functionalization, the AA diffusion rate towards the electrode surface increased by an order of 10. The calibration slopes of HRCM and MWCNTs improved from 1.9 to 3.7 times, thus reducing the LOD of C-SPE from 0.55 to 0.15 and 0.28 μM, respectively. Finally, the functionalization of the SPEs proved to be indispensable for determining the AA concentration in the watermelon and apple samples.

Trace manganese detection via differential pulse cathodic stripping voltammetry using disposable electrodes: additively manufactured nanographite electrochemical sensing platforms

Additive manufacturing is a promising technology for the rapid and economical fabrication of portable electroanalytical devices.

Screen Printed Electrode Based Detection Systems for the Antibiotic Amoxicillin in Aqueous Samples Utilising Molecularly Imprinted Polymers as Synthetic Receptors

Molecularly Imprinted Polymers (MIPs) were synthesised for the selective detection of amoxicillin in aqueous samples. Different functional monomers were tested to determine the optimal composition via batch rebinding experiments. Two different sensor platforms were tested using the same MIP solution; one being bulk synthesized and surface modified Screen Printed Electrodes (SPEs) via drop casting the microparticles onto the electrode surface and the other being UV polymerized directly onto the SPE surface in the form of a thin film. The sensors were used to measure amoxicillin in conjunction with the Heat-Transfer Method (HTM), a low-cost and simple thermal detection method that is based on differences in the thermal resistance at the solid–liquid interface. It was demonstrated that both sensor platforms could detect amoxicillin in the relevant concentration range with Limits of Detection (LOD) of 1.89 ± 1.03 nM and 0.54 ± 0.10 nM for the drop cast and direct polymerisation methods respectively. The sensor platform utilising direct UV polymerisation exhibited an enhanced response for amoxicillin detection, a reduced sensor preparation time and the selectivity of the platform was proven through the addition of nafcillin, a pharmacophore of similar shape and size. The use of MIP-modified SPEs combined with thermal detection provides sensors that can be used for fast and low-cost detection of analytes on-site, which holds great potential for contaminants in environmental aqueous samples. The platform and synthesis methods are generic and by adapting the MIP layer it is possible to expand this sensor platform to a variety of relevant targets.

Correlative Voltammetric Microscopy: Structure-Activity Relationships in the Microscopic Electrochemical Behavior of Screen Printed Carbon Electrodes

Screen-printed carbon electrodes (SPCEs) are widely used for electrochemical sensors. However, little is known about their electrochemical behavior at the microscopic level. In this work, we use voltammetric scanning electrochemical cell microscopy (SECCM), with dual-channel probes, to determine the microscopic factors governing the electrochemical response of SPCEs. SECCM cyclic voltammetry (CV) measurements are performed directly in hundreds of different locations of SPCEs, with high spatial resolution, using a submicrometer sized probe. Further, the localized electrode activity is spatially correlated to colocated surface structure information from scanning electron microscopy and micro-Raman spectroscopy. This approach is applied to two model electrochemical processes: hexaammineruthenium(III/II) ([Ru(NH₃)₆]^3+/2+), a well-known outer-sphere redox couple, and dopamine (DA), which undergoes a more complex electron-proton coupled electro-oxidation, with complications from adsorption of both DA and side-products. The electrochemical reduction of [Ru(NH₃)₆]³⁺ proceeds fairly uniformly across the surface of SPCEs on the submicrometer scale. In contrast, DA electro-oxidation shows a strong dependence on the microstructure of the SPCE. By studying this process at different concentrations of DA, the relative contributions of (i) intrinsic electrode kinetics and (ii) adsorption of DA are elucidated in detail, as a function of local electrode character and surface structure. These studies provide major new insights on the electrochemical activity of SPCEs and further position voltammetric SECCM as a powerful technique for the electrochemical imaging of complex, heterogeneous, and topographically rough electrode surfaces.

Phosphate Modified Screen Printed Electrodes by LIFT Treatment for Glucose Detection

The design of new materials as active layers is important for electrochemical sensor and biosensor development. Among the techniques for the modification and functionalization of electrodes, the laser induced forward transfer (LIFT) has emerged as a powerful physisorption method for the deposition of various materials (even labile materials like enzymes) that results in intimate and stable contact with target surface. In this work, Pt, Au, and glassy carbon screen printed electrodes (SPEs) treated by LIFT with phosphate buffer have been characterized by scanning electron microscopy and atomic force microscopy to reveal a flattening effect of all surfaces. The electrochemical characterization by cyclic voltammetry shows significant differences depending on the electrode material. The electroactivity of Au is reduced while that of glassy carbon and Pt is greatly enhanced. In particular, the electrochemical behavior of a phosphate LIFT treated Pt showed a marked enrichment of hydrogen adsorbed layer, suggesting an elevated electrocatalytic activity towards glucose oxidation. When Pt electrodes modified in this way were used as an effective glucose sensor, a 1–10 mM linear response and a 10 µM detection limit were obtained. A possible role of phosphate that was securely immobilized on a Pt surface, as evidenced by XPS analysis, enhancing the glucose electrooxidation is discussed.

Exploring the electrochemical performance of graphite and graphene paste electrodes composed of varying lateral flake sizes

We report the fabrication, characterisation (SEM/EDX, TEM, XRD, XPS and Raman spectroscopy) and electrochemical properties of graphite and graphene paste electrodes with varying lateral flake sizes. The fabricated paste electrodes are electrochemically analysed using both outer-sphere and inner-sphere redox probes, namely; hexaammineruthenium(iii) chloride, N,N,N',N'-tetramethyl-p-phenylenediamine (TMPD), potassium ferrocyanide(ii) and ammonium ferrous(ii) sulphate. Upon comparison of different graphite paste electrodes, a clear correlation between the lateral flake sizes (La), ranging from 1.5 mm-0.5 μm, and electrochemical activity (heterogeneous electron transfer (HET) kinetics) is evident, where an improvement in the HET is observed at smaller lateral flake sizes. We infer that the beneficial response evident when employing laterally smaller flakes is due to an increased number of edge plane like-sites/defects available upon the electrode surface, facilitating electron transfer. Interestingly, given that the overall lateral flake sizes of the graphenes utilised (10.0-1.3 μm) were significantly smaller than those studied previously, an improvement in HET kinetics was also evident with the reduction of lateral flake size; the extent to which is redox-probe dependent. Improvements are observed up to a distinct point, termed the 'lateral size threshold' (ca. ≤2 μm) where the electrochemical reversible limit is approached. Further support is provided from density functional theory (DFT), exploring the electronic structure (i.e. HOMO-LUMO) as a function of flake size, which demonstrates that the coverage of edge plane like-sites/defects comprising the geometric structure of the relatively small graphene flakes is such that effectively the entire flake has become electrochemically active. In this study, the importance of lateral flake size with respect to electrochemical reactivity at carbon-based electrodes has been demonstrated alongside a structural relationship upon HET performance, a phenomenon that has not previously been described in the literature. Such work is both highly important and informative for the field of electrochemistry and electrode performance, with potential implications in a plethora of areas, ranging from novel renewable energy sources to electroanalytical sensing platforms.

Determination of the Electrochemical Area of Screen-Printed Electrochemical Sensing Platforms

Screen-printed electrochemical sensing platforms, due to their scales of economy and high reproducibility, can provide a useful approach to translate laboratory-based electrochemistry into the field. An important factor when utilising screen-printed electrodes (SPEs) is the determination of their real electrochemical surface area, which allows for the benchmarking of these SPEs and is an important parameter in quality control. In this paper, we consider the use of cyclic voltammetry and chronocoulometry to allow for the determination of the real electrochemical area of screen-printed electrochemical sensing platforms, highlighting to experimentalists the various parameters that need to be diligently considered and controlled in order to obtain useful measurements of the real electroactive area.

A facile electrochemical intercalation and microwave assisted exfoliation methodology applied to screen-printed electrochemical-based sensing platforms to impart improved electroanalytical outputs

An Electrochemical Derived Intercalation process is explored as a modification for screen-printed electrodes to improve their electroanalytical outputs.

Screen-Printed Graphite Electrodes as Low-Cost Devices for Oxygen Gas Detection in Room-Temperature Ionic Liquids

Screen-printed graphite electrodes (SPGEs) have been used for the first time as platforms to detect oxygen gas in room-temperature ionic liquids (RTILs). Up until now, carbon-based SPEs have shown inferior behaviour compared to platinum and gold SPEs for gas sensing with RTIL solvents. The electrochemical reduction of oxygen (O₂) in a range of RTILs has therefore been explored on home-made SPGEs, and is compared to the behaviour on commercially-available carbon SPEs (C-SPEs). Six common RTILs are initially employed for O₂ detection using cyclic voltammetry (CV), and two RTILs ([C₂mim][NTf₂] and [C₄mim][PF₆]) chosen for further detailed analytical studies. Long-term chronoamperometry (LTCA) was also performed to test the ability of the sensor surface for real-time gas monitoring. Both CV and LTCA gave linear calibration graphs-for CV in the 10-100% vol. range, and for LTCA in the 0.1-20% vol. range-on the SPGE. The responses on the SPGE were far superior to the commercial C-SPEs; more instability in the electrochemical responses were observed on the C-SPEs, together with some breaking-up or dissolution of the electrode surface materials. This study highlights that not all screen-printed ink formulations are compatible with RTIL solvents for longer-term electrochemical experiments, and that the choice of RTIL is also important. Overall, the low-cost SPGEs appear to be promising platforms for the detection of O₂, particularly in [C₄mim][PF₆].

Surfactant exfoliated 2D hexagonal Boron Nitride (2D-hBN) explored as a potential electrochemical sensor for dopamine: surfactants significantly influence sensor capabilities

The surfactant utilised in the exfoliated synthesis of 2D hexagonal Boron Nitride (2D-hBN) significantly influences sensor capabilities towards the detection of dopamine.

Defining the origins of electron transfer at screen-printed graphene-like and graphite electrodes: MoO2 nanowire fabrication on edge plane sites reveals electrochemical insights

Molybdenum (di)oxide (MoO2) nanowires are fabricated onto graphene-like and graphite screen-printed electrodes (SPEs) for the first time, revealing crucial insights into the electrochemical properties of carbon/graphitic based materials. Distinctive patterns observed in the electrochemical process of nanowire decoration show that electron transfer occurs predominantly on edge plane sites when utilising SPEs fabricated/comprised of graphitic materials. Nanowire fabrication along the edge plane sites (and on edge plane like-sites/defects) of graphene/graphite is confirmed with Cyclic Voltammetry, Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM) and Raman Spectroscopy. Comparison of the heterogeneous electron transfer (HET) rate constants (k°) at unmodified and nanowire coated SPEs show a reduction in the electrochemical reactivity of SPEs when the edge plane sites are effectively blocked/coated with MoO2. Throughout the process, the basal plane sites of the graphene/graphite electrodes remain relatively uncovered; except when the available edge plane sites have been utilised, in which case MoO2 deposition grows from the edge sites covering the entire surface of the electrode. This work clearly illustrates the distinct electron transfer properties of edge and basal plane sites on graphitic materials, indicating favourable electrochemical reactivity at the edge planes in contrast to limited reactivity at the basal plane sites. In addition to providing fundamental insights into the electron transfer properties of graphite and graphene-like SPEs, the reported simple, scalable, and cost effective formation of unique and intriguing MoO2 nanowires realised herein is of significant interest for use in both academic and commercial applications.