SCREEN‐PRINTED ELECTRODES MODIFIED WITH CARBON NANOMATERIALS: A CHALLENGE AMONG CARBON BLACK, CARBON NANOTUBES AND GRAPHENE

The discovery of fullerene, carbon nanotubes (CNTs) and graphene has impacted very positively in the electrochemical field. The presence of CNTs or graphene on the surface of working electrodes can improve the electron transfer between the surface of modified electrodes obtaining improved analytical performances. Because of advantages of these nanomaterials, various procedures have been developed to produce these nanoscale materials, although sometimes it is not easy to obtain high yields, or concerning graphene, to get one single sheet (pristine) rather than few layers. During recent years another interesting carbonaceous material, but less noble if compared with the previous ones, is becoming interesting for its excellent characteristics and electrocatalytic properties: Carbon Black nanoparticles (CB). CB finds applications as sensitive and filler material, and it is cost‐effective (about 1 euro/kg). The advantage to use CB for analyte detection was demonstrated by our research group [1], then several investigations carried out by us and by other groups have confirmed its excellent electrocatalytic properties of CB . In this work a comparative study using Screen‐Printed Electrodes (SPEs) modified by drop casting with CB, Single Walled Carbon Nanotubes–COOH, Graphene Oxide, and reduced Graphene Oxide is reported. The carbon nanomaterials employed were characterised by X‐ray photoelectron and Raman spectroscopy, while the modified SPEs have been morphologically and electrochemically characterized. Nanoengineered SPEs have been tested with ferricyanide, NADH, ascorbic acid and cysteine in cyclic voltammetry observing a reduced overpotential. Furthermore, the CB‐SPE was also tested with NADH, ascorbic acid and cysteine in amperometric mode reaching a detection limit of 1 μM for the analytes tested. We observed valuable electroanalytical performances of CB even when compared to graphene and CNTs, with the advantage to be i) cost‐effective ii) suitable to obtain stable and homogenous dispersion and iii) mass‐producible following a well established route. References 1. F. Arduini et al., Electrochemistry Communications 12 (2010) 346