Electrochemical sensing performance of nanodiamond-derived carbon nano-onions: Comparison with multiwalled carbon nanotubes, graphite nanoflakes, and glassy carbon

Juchan Yang, Yan Zhang, Doo Young Kim

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

38 Scopus citations

Abstract

Carbon nano-onions (CNOs) are emerging carbon nanomaterials with unique microstructure and electronic properties. CNOs are 0-D carbon analogs of 1-D carbon nanotubes (CNTs) and 2-D graphenes. CNOs are composed of sp2-bonded, concentric nanographene shells surrounding a hollow core. Microstructure, electrochemical properties, and biosensing performances of nanodiamond-derived CNOs (N-CNOs) were studied in comparison with other popular carbon electrodes: multiwalled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs), graphite nanoflakes (GNFs), and glassy carbon (GC). First, morphology and microstructure of N-CNOs were characterized by scanning and transmission electron microscopies (SEM, TEM), X-ray diffraction (XRD), and Raman spectroscopy. Chemical composition and chemical functional groups were probed by X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS). Raman spectra of N-CNOs showed a large value of ID/IG, indicating that N-CNOs include defects, i.e., exposed edge planes. Second, electrocatalytic activity of N-CNOs toward oxygen reduction reaction was tested in comparison with MWCNTs, GNFs, and GC. Last, biosensing performances of N-CNOs were studied. Cyclic voltammetric and differential pulse voltammetric measurements were carried out for the detection of redox-active biomolecules such as dopamine, epinephrine, and norepinephrine. The results showed remarkable electrochemical activities of N-CNOs with high sensitivity, high selectivity, and stable electrode responses for the detection of biologically important molecules.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)74-82
Number of pages9
JournalCarbon
Volume98
DOIs
StatePublished - Mar 1 2016

Bibliographical note

Funding Information:
The project was supported by University of Kentucky Start-up Fund and the NSF KY EPSCoR grant (award No. 1355438 ).

Publisher Copyright:
© 2015 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Chemistry (all)
  • Materials Science (all)

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