Sensing properties of chemical sensors based on ternary hydroxyapatite-graphene-multiwalled carbon nanotube (HA-GN-MWCNT) nanocomposite in the detection of chemical substances representing risk factors for sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS), have been evaluated. Characterization data of the synthesized composite have shown that the graphene-MWCNT network serves as a matrix to uniformly disperse the hydroxyapatite nanoparticles and provide suitable electrical properties required for developing novel electrochemical and conductometric sensors. A HA-GN-MWCNT composite-modified glassy carbon electrode (HA-GN-MWCNT/GCE) has been fabricated and tested for the simultaneous monitoring of nicotine and caffeine by cyclic voltammetry (CV) and square wave voltammetry (SWV), whereas a HA-GN-MWCNT conductive gas sensor has been tested for the detection of CO2 in ambient air. Reported results suggest that the synergic combination of the chemical properties of HA and electrical/electrochemical characteristics of the mixed graphene-MWCNT network play a prominent role in enhancing the electrochemical and gas sensing behavior of the ternary HA-GN-MWCNT hybrid nanostructure. The high performances of the developed sensors make them suitable for monitoring unhealthy actions (e. g. smoking, drinking coffee) in breastfeeding women and environmental factors (bad air quality), which are associated with an enhanced risk for SIDS.
Keywords: CO2; Caffeine; Hydroxyapatite-based sensor; Nicotine; Sudden infant death syndrome.