17 - Functionalized metal and metal oxide nanomaterial-based electrochemical sensors

Abstract

The process of functionalization with functional groups, molecules, or biomolecules via superficial modification significantly influences the performance of nanomaterials and nanoparticles and enables them to act efficiently in the design and fabrication of electrochemical sensors being components of the transducers which can be applied in different fields for the detection of analytes such as biomarkers, contaminants, preservatives, etc. It is often used to reduce the nonspecific binding of the various analytes to the surface of transducing components. This is the researchable area of electrochemistry at present. In electrochemical sensing, high sensitivity, fast response, and good selectivity are required to obtain viable meaningful information. This chapter presents an overview of how functionalization enhances the electrochemical properties of electrochemical sensors obtained from carbon nanomaterials, metallic nanoparticles, and metallic oxide nanoparticles. The authors also explain how exactly the nanomaterials and nanoparticles interact, upon functionalization using molecules targeting the analytes of interest or substances with high specificity and fast signal response. Finally, challenges and prospects in the fabrications of electrochemical sensors were also presented in this chapter.