Ultrafine Fe3C nanoparticles embedded in N-doped graphitic carbon sheets for simultaneous determination of ascorbic acid, dopamine, uric acid and xanthine

Advanced design of chemically modified electrodes for the electrochemical analysis of uric acid and xanthine

This study reviews advances in chemical detection methods applied to the metabolic products known as uric acid (UA) and xanthine (XA), which are residues of purine metabolism, with XA being an important intermediate preceding UA. UA and XA play crucial roles in maintaining physiological homeostasis in organisms. Chemical modification of electrodes is a widely used method to address the issues of poor sensitivity and selectivity encountered with bare electrodes. This article reviews various materials commonly used to modify electrode surfaces for the detection of uric acid and xanthine, focusing on properties that enhance electrocatalytic activity. We highlight recent trends in detecting these compounds using electrochemical methods with microfabricated devices and explore cutting-edge modification techniques involving novel nanomaterials, carbon derivatives, metallic nanoparticles, and polymers. The review includes a comparative analysis of these materials, addressing their strengths, limitations, and recent advancements, such as in carbon-based materials and metal-organic frameworks (MOFs). Finally, we critically examine the challenges and future prospects of electrochemical detection of UA and XA in real samples, offering strategies to address these issues. The challenges associated with determination of UA and XA in real samples are also discussed.

Tailoring phases of ferrihydrite/α-Fe2O3@C nanocomposites using syringyl and guaiacyl-rich biomass-derived carbon nanodots for electrochemical application

Biomass-derived carbon nanodots (CNDs) hold promise as effective reducing agents for metal oxide nanoparticles yet understanding the intricate interplay with CND structure remains challenging. This study explores the impact of lignin types, specifically syringyl (S), and guaiacyl (G) units in CNDs on metal oxide phases and their electrochemical activity toward dopamine oxidation. We design phases of ferrihydrite/α-Fe2O3@C nanocomposites, using hazelnut carbon nanodots (HS-CNDs (S-rich)) and beetroot carbon nanodots (BS-CNDs (G-rich)) via a one-pot hydrothermal technique. Our findings show S units in HS-CNDs promote α-FeOOH/α-Fe2O3@CHS, while G units in BS-CNDs favor α (β)-FeOOH/α-Fe2O3@CBS. In contrast to α(β)-FeOOH/α-Fe2O3@CBS, α-FeOOH/α-Fe2O3@CHS exhibits superior electrochemical performance in dopamine oxidation due to its larger electrochemical active surface area, higher absorbance capacity, and shortened electron transfer length. Moreover, α-FeOOH/α-Fe2O3@CHS nanocomposites demonstrate remarkable dopamine selectivity, achieving rapid detection response in 10 s with a low LOD of 4 nM within a broad linear range (0.05-0.3 μM), demonstrating impressive reproducibility (97.5 %), stability (96.4 %), and works in real-time human urine detection with a recovery rate of ranging from 94.57 % and 102.2 %. Therefore, the utilization of biomass-derived CNDs, particularly S and G units-rich CNDs, in tailoring the phases of ferrihydrite/α-Fe2O3@C nanocomposites for electrochemical dopamine detection is promising.

Graphitic carbon nitride-based electrochemical sensors: A comprehensive review of their synthesis, characterization, and applications

Graphitic carbon nitride (g-C3N4) has garnered much attention as a promising 2D material in the realm of electrochemical sensors. It contains a polymeric matrix that can serve as an economical and non-toxic electrode material for the detection of a diverse range of analytes. However, its performance is impeded by a relatively limited active surface area and inherent instability. Although electrochemistry involving metal-doped g-C3N4 nanomaterials is rapidly progressing, it remains relatively unexplored. The metal doping of g-C3N4 augments the electrochemically active surface area of the resulting electrode, which has the potential to significantly enhance electrode kinetics and bolster catalytic activity. Consequentially, the main objective of this review is to provide insight into the intricacies of synthesizing and characterizing metal-doped g-C3N4. Furthermore, we comprehensively delve into the fundamental attributes of electrochemical sensors based on metal-doped g-C3N4, with a specific focus on healthcare and environmental applications. These applications encompass a meticulous exploration of detecting biomolecules, drug molecules, and organic pollutants.

Fe3 C/nanocarbon-Enabled Lithium Dendrite Mitigation in Lithium-Sulfur batteries

Lithium dendrite-induced short circuits and material loss are two major obstacles to the commercialization of lithium-sulfur (Li-S) batteries. Here, a nanocarbon composite consisting of cotton-derived Fe3 C-encapsulated multiwalled carbon nanotubes (Fe3 C-MWCNTs) and graphene effectively traps polysulfides to suppress lithium dendrite growth is reported. Machine learning combined with molecular dynamics (MD) simulations unveils a new polysulfide-induced lithium dendrite formation mechanism: the migration of polysulfides away from the anode drags out lithium protrusions through localized lattice distortion of the lithium anode and traps lithium ions in the surrounding electrolyte, leading to lithium dendrite formation. The Li-S battery, constructed using the composite of cotton-derived Fe3 C-MWCNTs and graphene that serves as both the sulfur host and the anode interlayer, exhibits exceptional cycling stability, impressive capacity retention, and effective mitigation of lithium dendrite formation. The findings offer valuable strategies to prevent lithium dendrite formation and enhance understanding of lithium dendrite growth in Li-S batteries.

Synergy between iron oxide sites and nitrogen-doped carbon xerogel/diamond matrix for boosting the oxygen reduction reaction

The innovative design and facile synthesis of efficient and stable electrocatalysts for the oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) are crucial in the field of fuel cells. Herein, the facile synthesis of an iron oxide@nitrogen-doped carbon diamond (FeO x @NCD) composite via an effective pyrolysis strategy is reported. The properties of this electrocatalyst, including a high density of active sites, nitrogen doping, accessible surface area, well dispersed pyramidal morphology of the iron oxide, and the porous structure of the carbon matrix, promote a highly active oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) performance. The electrocatalyst exhibits outstanding stability, with a half-wave potential of 0.692 V in alkaline solution (0.1 M KOH), as well as a limiting current density of -31.5 mA cm-2 at 0.17 V vs. RHE. This study highlights the benefits of hybridizing sp2 carbon xerogel and sp3 diamond carbon allotropes with iron oxide to boost the ORR activity. The proposed strategy opens up an avenue for designing advanced carbon-supported metal oxide catalysts that exhibit excellent electrocatalytic performance.

WS2 quantum dots harvesting via sonication assisted liquid exfoliation for the electrochemical sensing of xanthine

WS2 quantum dots (QDs) were prepared by sonication assisted liquid exfoliation in dimethyl formamide (DMF) and dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO).

Unveiling the Fundamental Mechanisms of Graphene Oxide Selectivity on the Ascorbic Acid, Dopamine, and Uric Acid by Density Functional Theory Calculations and Charge Population Analysis

The selectivity of electrochemical sensors to ascorbic acid (AA), dopamine (DA), and uric acid (UA) remains an open challenge in the field of biosensing. In this study, the selective mechanisms for detecting AA, DA, and UA molecules on the graphene and graphene oxide substrates were illustrated through the charge population analysis from the density functional theory (DFT) calculation results. Our substrate models contained the 1:10 oxygen per carbon ratio of reduced graphene oxide, and the functionalized configurations were selected according to the formation energy. Geometry optimizations were performed for the AA, DA, and UA on the pristine graphene, epoxy-functionalized graphene, and hydroxyl-functionalized graphene at the DFT level with vdW-DF2 corrections. From the calculations, AA was bound to both epoxy and hydroxyl-functionalized GO with relatively low adsorption energy, while DA was adsorbed stronger to the electronegative epoxy groups. The strongest adsorption of UA to both functional groups corresponded to the largest amount of electron transfer through the pi orbitals. Local electron loss created local electric fields that opposed the electron transfer during an oxidation reaction. Our analysis agreed with the results from previous experimental studies and provided insight into other electrode modifications for electrochemical sensing.

Utilizing Fused Filament Fabrication for Printing Iron Cores for Electrical Devices

This work details a polyolefin-elastomer-based binder system to prepare fused filament fabrication (FFF) filaments and print cores for coils for electrical engines. The processability, homogeneity, and thermal properties of the polyolefin-elastomer-based filaments are explored. A two-step debinding and sintering process was established for manufacturing dense iron parts. Results indicate the developed filaments possess superior printing and sintering (at 900°C) performance, yielding only 20% weight loss by polymer decomposition and 14 vol.% shrinkage. This indicates that the FFF technique potentially enables printing of innovative electric motor designs. The designed FFF filaments could be loaded with 80 wt.% Fe powder while keeping a decent melt-viscosity for the printing process. Due to the high metal loading, dense iron parts could be sintered without bending or deformation.

Convenient synthesis of three-dimensional hierarchical CuS@Pd core-shell cauliflowers decorated on nitrogen-doped reduced graphene oxide for non-enzymatic electrochemical sensing of xanthine

A novel hybrid with three-dimensional (3D) hierarchical CuS@Pd core-shell cauliflowers decorated on nitrogen-doped reduced graphene oxide (CuS@Pd/N-RGO) has been prepared by a facile wet-chemical route without utilizing any template molecules and surfactants. The characterization results reveal that the 3D flower-like structure of CuS "core" is composed of interconnecting nanoplates, which is conductive to the loading of Pd nanoparticles' "shell" and results in the robust interaction between the core and shell for the formation of CuS@Pd cauliflowers. Anchoring such appealing CuS@Pd cauliflowers on the two-dimensional N-RGO can efficaciously inhibit the aggregation of CuS@Pd cauliflowers and accelerate the kinetics of xanthine oxidation. Benefiting from the multi-functional properties and unique morphology, the sensor constructed by CuS@Pd/N-RGO exhibits excellent performance for non-enzymatic detection of xanthine including a wide detection range of 0.7-200.0 μM (0.94 V vs. SCE), a low detection limit of 28 nM (S/N = 3), high reproducibility (relative standard deviation (RSD) = 4.1%), and commendable stability (retained 90% of the initial electrochemical responses after storage for 30 days), which is amongst the best of various electrochemical sensors reported for xanthine assays till date. Reliable and satisfying recoveries (95-105%, RSD ≤ 4.1%) are achieved for xanthine detection in real samples. The inspiring results make the uniquely structural CuS@Pd/N-RGO greatly promising in non-enzymatic electrochemical sensing applications. Graphical abstract A high-performance non-enzymatic xanthine sensor has been constructed by the three-dimensional hierarchical CuS@Pd core-shell cauliflowers decorated on nitrogen-doped reduced graphene oxide.

Phthalocyanine Modified Electrodes in Electrochemical Analysis

Phthalocyanines are aromatic or macrocyclic organic compounds and attract great attention due to their numerous properties. They have many high-tech applications in different areas of the industry such as dyestuffs, thermal printing screens, photovoltaic solar cells, membrane catalytic reactors, semiconductor materials and gas sensors. In the last decade, electrochemical sensor studies have accelerated with the catalytic lighting. It plays a dominant role in the development and implementation of new generation sensors. The aim of this study is to review the electrochemical methods based on electrode modification with phthalocyanines and to shed light on new application areas of phthalocyanines. The focal point was based on the sensor applications of phthalocyanines in the determination of drugs, pesticides, organic materials and metals etc. by electrochemical methods. Experimental conditions and some validation parameters of the sensor applications such as metal phthalocyanine types, indicator electrodes, selectivity, working ranges, detection limits, and analytical applications were discussed. Consequently, this is the first review dealing with the applications of phthalocyanines in electrochemical sensors for the sensitive determination of analytes in a variety of matrices.

Monodispersed gold nanoparticles entrapped in ordered mesoporous carbon/silica nanocomposites as xanthine oxidase mimic for electrochemical sensing of xanthine

Monodispersed Au nanoparticles in ordered mesoporous carbon/silica (Au/OMCS) nanocomposites were prepared by the solvent evaporation induced self-assembly. Au/OMCS nanocomposites were characterized through XRD, BET, and TEM. The obtained nanocomposites exhibit uniform mesopores with the size of 18 ± 2 nm. And ultrafine Au nanoparticles with the size of 3~7 nm are well dispersed in the cavities. An ultrasensitive nanoenzyme sensor was fabricated based on a Au/OMCS-modified electrode. The Au/OMCS-modified electrode displays high xanthine oxidase-like catalytic activity evaluated through cyclic voltammetry (CV) and differential pulse voltammetry (DPV). The DPV response currents are linearly dependent on concentrations of xanthine (Xa) in the range 0.10-20 μM, along with a high sensitivity of 6.84 μA μM^-1 cm^-2 and very low detection limit of 0.006 μM (S/N = 3) under the optimal working potential of 0.64 V vs. SCE. Interference experiments show that the nanoenzyme sensor has no obvious responses to most potentially interfering species at a potential of 0.64 V. The fabricated sensor has been applied to the determination of Xa in spiked urine samples with recoveries ranging from 98.26 to 101.4%. Graphical abstract.

Electrochemical sensor based on dual-template molecularly imprinted polymer and nanoporous gold leaf modified electrode for simultaneous determination of dopamine and uric acid

A novel electrochemical sensor based on dual-template molecularly imprinted polymer (MIP) with nanoporous gold leaf (NPGL) was established for the simultaneous determination of dopamine (DA) and uric acid (UA). NPGL acts as an enlarged loading platform to enhance sensing capacity, and the MIP layer was synthesized in situ in the presence of monomer and dual templates (DA and UA) to provide specific recognition. Under the optimal conditions, the sensor shows a good linear range of 2.0~180 μM for DA at a working potential of 0.15 V (vs. Ag/AgCl) and 5.0~160 μM for UA at 0.35 V (vs. Ag/AgCl), with the respective detection limit of 0.3 μM and 0.4 μM (S/N = 3). Good selectivity of the sensor to its dual templates was confirmed as the sensing signals are significantly different between templates and interfering species. The responses maintained higher than 96% of the initial values after 30-day storage, and the day-to-day relative standard deviation is less than 3.0%. Real sample simultaneous determination of DA and UA was conducted with bovine serum, and the results were in good agreement with those from high-performance liquid chromatography. It can be concluded that this work offers a reliable, facile, fast, and cost-effective method of simultaneous quantification of two or more chem-/bio-molecules. Graphical abstract.

A sensitive method to determine dopamine in the presence of uric acid based on In2O3 nanosheet arrays grown on 3D graphene

A nonenzymatic voltammetric assay for dopamine (DA) was developed based on the combination of three-dimensional graphene (3D Gr) and indium oxide nanosheet arrays (In₂O₃ NSAs). 3D Gr was prepared by chemical vapor deposition (CVD), and In₂O₃ NSAs were grown on its surface by hydrothermal synthesis. The results show that 3D Gr maintains a good porous structure (200 μm), and the pore size of In₂O₃ NSAs is 0.50 μm. Differential pulse voltammetry (DPV) is mainly used to determine the electrochemical properties of In₂O₃ NSAs/3D Gr. It possesses a sensitivity of 2.69 μA·μM^-1·cm^-2 towards DA (5-60 μM) at 0.14 V, and the detection limit (LOD) is 0.10 μM (S/N = 3). The recoveries obtained for spiked samples in the real sample detection is 105 (± 8)%. Graphical abstractSchematic representation of DA sensitive detection by growing In₂O₃ nanosheets arrays on three-dimentional graphene modified ITO.

Electrochemical sensor based on an electrode modified with porous graphitic carbon nitride nanosheets (C3N4) embedded in graphene oxide for simultaneous determination of ascorbic acid, dopamine and uric acid

Two-dimensional porous graphitic carbon nitride (g-C₃N₄) nanosheets were synthesized by low-cost and direct thermal oxidation. Porous g-C₃N₄ assembled with graphene oxide (GO) was immobilized on a glassy carbon electrode. The sensor was applied to simultaneous determination of ascorbic acid (AA), dopamine (DA) and uric acid (UA) with high performance. Cyclic voltammetry and differential pulse voltammetry were used to investigate electrochemical and electrocatalytic properties. The results indicate that the electrochemical sensor possesses high specific surface area, hierarchical pore structure and excellent signal response to AA, DA and UA. The oxidation potentials are well separated at around 0.15, 0.34 and 0.46 V for AA, DA and UA respectively. The determination limits for AA, DA and UA are 3.7 μM, 0.07 μM and 0.43 μM, respectively. The sensor was applied to tracking the three analytes in spiked serum samples with recovery 95.1~105.5% and relation standard deviations of less than 5%. Graphical abstract Schematic representation of porous graphitic carbon nitride nanosheet embedded in graphene oxide for simultaneous determination of ascorbic acid, dopamine and uric acid.