Application of nanoporous core–shell structured multi-walled carbon nanotube–graphene oxide nanoribbons in electrochemical biosensors

Abstract

Here, we demonstrated the synthesis of nanoporous core–shell structured multi-walled carbon nanotube–graphene oxide nanoribbons (NP-MWCNT@GONRs) and their electrochemical applications to biosensors. The NP-MWCNT@GONRs were prepared by a hydrothermal method with ZnCl2 as the activation agent followed by an acid treatment. The NP-MWCNT@GONRs exhibited a hierarchical micro/mesoporous structure and a high surface area (2.4 times higher than that of MWCNTs). NP-MWCNT@GONR-modified glassy carbon electrodes (GCEs) were used to electrochemically detect biomolecules, including ascorbic acid (AA), dopamine (DA), and uric acid (UA). This NP-MWCNT@GONR-modified GCE exhibited high sensitivity of approximately 15 μA μM−1 cm−2 and low limits of detection of 0.12 μM in DA, demonstrating that it is a promising electrode for biosensors.