Applications of Graphene and Its Derivatives in Chemical Analysis

Abstract

In this review, the applications of graphene and its derivatives in the chemical analysis have been described. The properties of graphene materials which are essential for their use in chemical and biochemical analysis are characterized. The materials are used in sensors and biosensors, in electrochemistry, in chromatography and in the sample preparation techniques. Chemical and electrochemical sensors containing graphene materials are useful devices for detecting some chemical and biochemical compounds. Chromatographic columns for HPLC with graphene containing stationary phases may be used for separation of polar and nonpolar components of some specific mixtures. Graphene materials could be successfully employed during sample preparation for analysis with SPE, magnetic SPE, and SPME techniques.

Highlights

1. The review of the applications of graphene (G) and its derivatives, graphene oxide (GO) and reduced graphene oxide (rGO), in chemical and biochemical analysis is proposed.

2. The electron donor-acceptor and proton donor-acceptor interactions for the graphene based materials – analytes systems and their impact on the analysis results are discussed, particularly:

   •     i) in electrochemistry,

   • ii) in chromatography,

   • iii) in modern sample preparation techniques

   • iv) in sensors of different types.

3. The essence of the thermal stability and the nomenclature of the graphene based materials in their different applications in chemical systems of different classes was discussed (and suggested).

4. The benefits of using SPME fibers with immobilized graphene materials have been presented in detail.

GRAPHICAL ABSTRACT

Keywords:

• Graphene;
• graphene oxide;
• reduced graphene oxide;
• adsorption isotherms;
• chromatography;
• graphene oxide membranes;
• solid-phase extraction;
• microextraction

Disclosure statement

The authors do not report any potential conflict of interest. Notwithstanding, in the text of the manuscript, the names of the analyzed compounds, measurement techniques, separation methods and different kinds of interactions (π-π stacking, hydrogen bonding, confocal live cell imaging, $O_2^{•-}$– – superoxide anions or $C^{•}{}^{}$– carbon radicals), GO@silica and G@silica are often repeated. Please, include this in the anti-plagiarism verification. It is difficult to paraphrase expressions in the chemical nomenclature or definitions.

Compliance with ethical standards

This article does not contain any studies: i) with human participants performed by any of the authors of the article, ii) with animals performed by any of the authors of the article.