Nanocomposite Materials Based on Electrochemically Synthesized Graphene Polymers: Molecular Architecture Strategies for Sensor Applications

Abstract

The use of graphene and its derivatives in the development of electrochemical sensors has been growing in recent decades. Part of this success is due to the excellent characteristics of such materials, such as good electrical and mechanical properties and a large specific surface area. The formation of composites and nanocomposites with these two materials leads to better sensing performance compared to pure graphene and conductive polymers. The increased large specific surface area of the nanocomposites and the synergistic effect between graphene and conducting polymers is responsible for this interesting result. The most widely used methodologies for the synthesis of these materials are still based on chemical routes. However, electrochemical routes have emerged and are gaining space, affording advantages such as low cost and the promising possibility of modulation of the structural characteristics of composites. As a result, application in sensor devices can lead to increased sensitivity and decreased analysis cost. Thus, this review presents the main aspects for the construction of nanomaterials based on graphene oxide and conducting polymers, as well as the recent efforts made to apply this methodology in the development of sensors and biosensors.

Synthesis of Graphene-Based Nanocomposites for Environmental Remediation Applications: A Review

“…In comparison to graphene, graphene oxide is considered a more versatile and advanced material. GO has a broad range of oxygen containing functional groups such as carboxyl, hydroxyl, epoxy, carbonyl, and keto groups on its surface, as shown in Figure 9 [ 84 , 85 , 86 , 87 ].…”

“…[Reprinted with permission from ref. [ 87 ], Olean-Oliveira, A.; Oliveira Brito, G.A. ; Cardoso, C.X.…”

Recent Advances in Functional Polymer Materials for Energy, Water, and Biomedical Applications: A Review

“…The electrodes of these supercapacitors are materials that are based on metal oxides but mainly on conductive polymers [87][88][89][90]. These conductive polymers have shown an excellent specific capacity and their low cyclic stability has been lately overstated by the investigation of nanocomposites which was based on conducting polymers [91][92][93].…”

Recent trends in covalent functionalization of 2D materials

“…57–59 Among them, covalent functionalization, which introduces covalent bonds between functional groups and 2D materials, has been widely studied for its versatility. Covalent functionalization of many 2D materials, such as graphene, 60–67 graphene oxide (GO), 60,68,69 TMDCs, 70–74 BP, 75–77 hBN, 78,79 MXene, 80 2D oxides, 72–74,81 and others, 40,82 have been extensively studied for a variety of applications, including biology, 73,75,81,83–95 polymer composites, 33–35,96 environmental technology, 35,97–99 energy, 60,100–103 electrical, 100,104–108 optics, 60 and catalytic engineering. 106,109–112…”