A glassy carbon electrode modified with N-doped carbon dots for improved detection of hydrogen peroxide and paracetamol

Li Fu; Aiwu Wang; Guosong Lai; Cheng-Te Lin; Jinhong Yu; Aimin Yu; Zhong Liu; Kefeng Xie; Weitao Su

doi:10.1007/s00604-017-2646-9

A glassy carbon electrode modified with N-doped carbon dots for improved detection of hydrogen peroxide and paracetamol

Mikrochim Acta. 2018 Jan 8;185(2):87. doi: 10.1007/s00604-017-2646-9.

Authors

Li Fu¹, Aiwu Wang², Guosong Lai³, Cheng-Te Lin⁴, Jinhong Yu⁴, Aimin Yu^{3

5}, Zhong Liu⁶, Kefeng Xie⁷, Weitao Su⁸

Affiliations

¹ College of Materials and Environmental Engineering, Hangzhou Dianzi University, Hangzhou, 310018, People's Republic of China. fuli@hdu.edu.cn.
² Center of Super-Diamond and Advanced Films (COSDAF) and Department of Physics and Materials Science, City University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, Hong Kong.
³ Hubei Collaborative Innovation Center for Rare Metal Chemistry, Hubei Key Laboratory of Pollutant Analysis & Reuse Technology, Department of Chemistry, Hubei Normal University, Huangshi, 435002, People's Republic of China.
⁴ Key Laboratory of Marine Materials and Related Technologies, Zhejiang Key Laboratory of Marine Materials and Protective Technologies, Ningbo Institute of Materials Technology and Engineering, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Ningbo, 315201, China.
⁵ Department of Chemistry and Biotechnology, Faculty of Science, Engineering and Technology, Swinburne University of Technology, Hawthorn, VIC, 3122, Australia.
⁶ Key Laboratory of Comprehensive and Highly Efficient Utilization of Salt Resources, Qinghai Institute of Salt Lakes, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Xining, 810008, People's Republic of China.
⁷ State Key Laboratory of Plateau Ecology and Agriculture, Qinghai University, Xining, 810016, People's Republic of China.
⁸ College of Materials and Environmental Engineering, Hangzhou Dianzi University, Hangzhou, 310018, People's Republic of China. suweitao@hdu.edu.cn.

PMID: 29594682
DOI: 10.1007/s00604-017-2646-9

Abstract

Nitrogen doped carbon dots (NCDs) were synthesized using a low temperature approach and used to modify a glassy carbon electrode (GCE) via dipping. The oxygen groups on the surface of the NCDs, and the charge delocalization of the NCDs warrant an excellent electrocatalytic activity of the GCE toward oxidation of paracetamol (PA) and reduction of H₂O₂. PA and H₂O₂ were detected at 0.34 V and -0.4 V (both vs. Ag/AgCl) using differential pulse voltammetry and amperometric I-T measurement, respectively. The modified GCE has a linear response to PA in the 0.5 to 600 μM concentration range, and to H₂O₂ in the 0.05 μM to 2.25 mM concentration range. The detection limits are 157 nM and 41 nM, respectively. In our perception, the modified GCE holds promise for stable, selective and sensitive determination of PA and H₂O₂ in pharmaceutical analysis. Graphic abstract Nitrogen doped carbon dots (NCDs) were synthesized and used to modify a glassy carbon electrode. Surface functional groups on NCDs can trigger electrocatalytic reactions toward paracetamol oxidation and H₂O₂ reduction with high sensitivities.

Keywords: Cyclic voltammetry; Differential pulse voltammetry; Electrochemical sensor; Electrode modification; H2O2 disinfector; Low temperature synthesis; Nanomaterial; Pharmaceutical analysis; Surface functional group.