Sodium-ion batteries (SIBs) have gained enormous attention as an alternative electrochemical energy storage system. A significant challenge for their practical viability is finding an anode material that can provide high specific capacity along with good cycling stability. Recently, numerous theoretical works have proposed hexagonal boron nitride (hBN) as a promising anode material for SIBs. Nevertheless, there has been no reported experimental verification for these theoretical claims. To fill the knowledge gap, the electrochemical performance of hBN has been investigated under the capacity of a potential anode for SIBs. The effect of particle morphology on the electrochemical performance of hBN has also been investigated using bulk hBN powder and nanoplatelets hBN as active materials. Unexpectedly, hBN showcased minimal charging capacity with effectively no reversible intercalation/de-intercalation of Na-ions. The obtained results provide experimental insight into the ineffectiveness of hBN in serving as SIB anode material, unlike the previous theoretical claims. We believe it is essential to report these discrepancies in the computational and experimental findings for the benefit of experimentalists working enthusiastically to explore and develop new anode materials related to boron nitride systems.
Screen-printed electrodes (SPEs) have emerged as reliable probes for portable, economical, and practical testing platforms in point-of-care (PoC) applications. Compared to the conventional three-electrode systems, SPEs require significantly less sample volume and omit the cleaning and pre-treatment requirements. This work is focused on amplifying the response signal of SPE using a facile protocol for boron carbon nitride (BCN)-assisted SPE surface functionalization using cyclic voltammetry (CV). To validate the success of the modification, the SPE surface is subjected to chemical and electrochemical characterization using X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, CV, and differential pulse voltammetry. Ascribed to the BCN's electrocatalytic ability, the modified SPE significantly improves electrochemical activity, with a five-fold increase in current response and an 18 mV potential shift. The fabricated sensing platform demonstrates high sensitivity and selectivity toward quantitative analysis of tryptophan with a detection limit of 36.4 nM. Furthermore, the developed sensor was tested for monitoring TRP levels in complex matrices like food and human body fluids. This proposed approach of electrode modification holds promise for providing swift, precise, and cost-effective means for improving the sensitivity of SPEs for trace level detections required for PoC applications.
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