Recent developments in carbon-based two-dimensional materials: synthesis and modification aspects for electrochemical sensors

Abstract

This review (162 references) focuses on two-dimensional carbon materials, which include graphene as well as its allotropes varying in size, number of layers, and defects, for their application in electrochemical sensors. Many preparation methods are known to yield two-dimensional carbon materials which are often simply addressed as graphene, but which show huge variations in their physical and chemical properties and therefore on their sensing performance. The first section briefly reviews the most promising as well as the latest achievements in graphene synthesis based on growth and delamination techniques, such as chemical vapor deposition, liquid phase exfoliation via sonication or mechanical forces, as well as oxidative procedures ranging from chemical to electrochemical exfoliation. Two-dimensional carbon materials are highly attractive to be integrated in a wide field of sensing applications. Here, graphene is examined as recognition layer in electrochemical sensors like field-effect transistors, chemiresistors, impedance-based devices as well as voltammetric and amperometric sensors. The sensor performance is evaluated from the material’s perspective of view and revealed the impact of structure and defects of the 2D carbon materials in different transducing technologies. It is concluded that the performance of 2D carbon-based sensors is strongly related to the preparation method in combination with the electrical transduction technique. Future perspectives address challenges to transfer 2D carbon-based sensors from the lab to the market.

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“…Carbon-based nanomaterials (single-walled carbon nanotubes (SWNTs), multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWNTs), single-walled carbon nanohorns (SWCNHs), buckypaper, graphene, fullerenes (e.g., C 60 ), etc. present very interesting properties, such as high surface-to-volume ratio, high electrical conductivity, chemical stability/durability, and strong mechanical strength, and for these reasons they have found a large applicability in the sensing area [22][23][24][25][26][27][28].…”

Electrochemical Affinity Biosensors Based on Selected Nanostructures for Food and Environmental Monitoring

“…Nanostructures have shown to play a key role in improving the performance of electrochemical affinity biosensors mainly in terms of sensitivity, selectivity and stability due to their small size, quantum size and interface effects [ 2 , 3 , 4 , 5 , 6 , 7 ]. Over the last years, nanomaterials have been widely exploited as electrode surface modifiers with three main purposes: (i) enhancing the conductivity of electrodes providing larger currents and higher signal-to-background ratios which result in a higher sensitivity; (ii) immobilizing (bio)molecules; and (iii) improving the biocompatibility of the electrode surface.…”