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Nitrogen-doped multi-walled carbon nanotubes for paracetamol sensing

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Abstract

A novel sensor consisting of nitrogen-doped multi-walled carbon nanotubes was fabricated by means of chemical vapor deposition technique with decomposition of acetonitrile onto oxidized silicon wafer using ferrocene as catalyst. The electrochemical response of carbon nanotubes-based sensor towards oxidation of paracetamol to N-acetyl-p-quinone imine was investigated in phosphate buffer solution (pH 7.0) by means of standard electrochemical techniques. A quasi-reversible response for oxidation of paracetamol was identified on carbon nanotubes-based sensor with detection limit and sensitivity of 0.485 μM and 0.8406 A M−1 cm−2, respectively. It was found that the nitrogen doping in carbon nanotubes enhances the sensor's detection ability. Namely, electrochemical studies performed on film consisting of pristine carbon nanotubes reveal as well quasi-reversible response towards oxidation of paracetamol but nevertheless poorer detection ability and sensitivity (0.950 μM; 0.601 A M−1 cm−2). The findings strongly suggest the application of nitrogen-doped carbon nanotubes in biosensing.

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Acknowledgments

The financial support from BMBF (CarbonSens, contract number: 16SV5326) is gratefully acknowledged.

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  1. Institut für Chemie und Biochemie, Technische Universität Ilmenau, Weimarer Straße 25, 98693, Ilmenau, Germany

    Nikos G. Tsierkezos, Shereen Haj Othman & Uwe Ritter

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  1. Nikos G. Tsierkezos
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  2. Shereen Haj Othman
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  3. Uwe Ritter
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Correspondence to Nikos G. Tsierkezos.

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Tsierkezos, N.G., Othman, S.H. & Ritter, U. Nitrogen-doped multi-walled carbon nanotubes for paracetamol sensing. Ionics 19, 1897–1905 (2013). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11581-013-0930-1

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