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 language | English |
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Pages (from-to) | 74-82 |
Number of pages | 9 |
Journal | Carbon |
Volume | 98 |
DOIs | |
State | Published - 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)