Simultaneous ultrasensitive determination of dihydroxybenzene isomers using GC electrodes modified with nitrogen-doped carbon nano-onions

This study developed an ultrasensitive and reliable electrochemical scaffold for the individual and sensitive simultaneous determination of DHB isomers. The nitrogen-doped carbon nano-onions (N-CNOs) synthesized in-situ is much less expensive (only 1/80) than the expensive nanodiamond-based process because the synthesis of CNO from nano-diamond requires a high vacuum (10–6 torr) and a high-temperature (1800 °C), whereas the present process requires atmospheric pressure and approximately 1000 °C. The successful self-assembly of N-CNOs on glassy carbon (GC) electrode becomes a single, metal-free, economically, and environmentally benign sensor material for the ultrasensitive and simultaneous determination of DHB isomers. The CNO and N-CNOs were initially synthesized through the in-situ flame-pyrolysis technique possessing a high degree of graphitization, high surface area, excellent surface wettability, and also in high-quantity, adequately characterized using high-resolution transmission electron microscopy, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, and Raman spectral techniques. For the CNO and N-CNOs, the cage-like concentric graphite layers exhibited an intergraphitic layer spacing of 0.34 nm with a diameter range of 30 nm. The novel N-CNO/GC electrode demonstrated approximately 1000-times better electrocatalytic performance and outperformed the Au, Ag, Pd, MOF, conventional carbon allotropes, including their various composites in determining the DHB isomers with the ul...
Source: Sensors and Actuators B: Chemical - Category: Chemistry Source Type: research