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Graphene-based electrochemical sensor for detection of 2,4,6-trinitrotoluene (TNT) in seawater: the comparison of single-, few-, and multilayer graphene nanoribbons and graphite microparticles

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Abstract

The detection of explosives in seawater is of great interest. We compared response single-, few-, and multilayer graphene nanoribbons and graphite microparticle-based electrodes toward the electrochemical reduction of 2,4,6-trinitrotoluene (TNT). We optimized parameters such as accumulation time, accumulation potential, and pH. We found that few-layer graphene exhibits about 20% enhanced signal for TNT after accumulation when compared to multilayer graphene nanoribbons. However, graphite microparticle-modified electrode provides higher sensitivity, and there was no significant difference in the performance of single-, few-, and multilayer graphene nanoribbons and graphite microparticles for the electrochemical detection of TNT. We established the limit of detection of TNT in untreated seawater at 1 μg/mL.

Graphene for detection of TNT based explosives

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Acknowledgments

This work was partially supported by MINDEF-NTU-JPP/10/07 grant from the Ministry of Defense, Singapore and NAP start-up fund (grant no. M58110066) provided by NTU.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Division of Chemistry & Biological Chemistry, School of Physical and Mathematical Sciences, Nanyang Technological University, 21 Nanyang Link, Singapore, 637371, Singapore

    Madeline Shuhua Goh & Martin Pumera

Authors
  1. Madeline Shuhua Goh
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  2. Martin Pumera
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Martin Pumera.

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Published in the special issue Nanomaterials for Improved Analytical Processes with Guest Editors Miguel Valcárcel and Bartolomé M. Simonet.

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Goh, M.S., Pumera, M. Graphene-based electrochemical sensor for detection of 2,4,6-trinitrotoluene (TNT) in seawater: the comparison of single-, few-, and multilayer graphene nanoribbons and graphite microparticles. Anal Bioanal Chem 399, 127–131 (2011). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00216-010-4338-8

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00216-010-4338-8

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