A simple and efficient electrochemical sensor for determination of gallic acid based on multi-walled carbon nanotubes with carboxyl functionalization

ABSTRACT

We designed a simple and efficient electrochemical sensor for the determination of gallic acid (GA) by modifying the glassy carbon electrode (GCE) with the carboxyl-group functionalized multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs-COOH). For this kind of carbon nanomaterial, MWCNTs-COOH possessed good electrical conductivity and enough specific surface area due to the one-dimensional hollow carbon skeleton with high charge transfer efficiency. Moreover, the carboxyl functionalization of MWCNTs-COOH could promote the homogeneous dispersion of multi-walled carbon nanotubes due to the enhanced surface wettability of carboxyl groups, which helped provide larger electrochemical active surface area and more efficient electron transport channels. Based on the above advantages, the fabricated MWCNTs-COOH/GCE sensor showed a low limit of detection of 0.0067 μM in the linear GA concentration range of 0.01-10 μM. In addition, the good reproducibility, repeatability, stability, and selectivity could be obtained at the fabricated sensor.     

KEYWORDS:

• Multi-walled carbon nanotubes
• carboxyl functionalization
• gallic acid
• electrochemical sensor
• glassy carbon electrode

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).

Additional information

Funding

This work was financially supported by the High-Level Talents Introduction Project of Henan Institute of Science and Technology [No. 203010617011].

Notes on contributors

Gan Zhu

Gan Zhu is an undergraduate student in the School of Mechanical and Electrical Engineering, Henan Institute of Science and Technology, Xinxiang, China. His research interests include the nano-micro surface engineering technology for electrochemical sensor.

Nan Hu

Nan Hu is currently working as an associate professor in the School of Mechanical and Electrical Engineering, Henan Institute of Science and Technology, Xinxiang, China. His research interests include the machine design and nano-micro surface engineering technology for electrochemical sensor.

Meimei Guo

Meimei Guo is an undergraduate student in the School of Mechanical and Electrical Engineering, Henan Institute of Science and Technology, Xinxiang, China. His research interests include the nano-micro surface engineering technology for electrochemical sensor.

Yunhang Liu

Yunhang Liu is an undergraduate student in the School of Mechanical and Electrical Engineering, Henan Institute of Science and Technology, Xinxiang, China. His research interests include the nano-micro surface engineering technology for electrochemical sensor.

Qiwen Ran

Qiwen Ran is currently a doctoral candidate in the School of Materials and Energy, University of Electronic Science and Technology of China, Chengdu, China. His research interests include the design and synthesis of advanced functional materials for electrochemical energy and electrochemical sensor.

Hongyuan Zhao

Hongyuan Zhao is currently working as a Professor in the School of Mechanical and Electrical Engineering, Henan Institute of Science and Technology, Xinxiang, China. His research interests include the nano-micro surface engineering technology and advanced functional materials for electrochemical energy and electrochemical sensor.