title: Single-, few-, and multilayer graphene not exhibiting significant advantages over graphite microparticles in electroanalysis.
abstract: This report compares the electroanalytical performances of single- (G-SL), few- (G-FL), and multilayer graphene (G-ML), graphite microparticles, and edge-plane pyrolytic graphite electrodes in terms of sensitivity, linearity, and repeatability. We show that in the case of differential pulse voltammetric (DPV) detection of ascorbic acid, the sensitivity of a G-SL electrode is about 30% greater than that of G-ML and about 40% greater than graphite microparticles. However, in the case of DPV determination of uric acid, sensitivity is practically the same for all (G-SL, G-FL, and G-ML) and, importantly, the graphite microparticles do provide higher sensitivity than graphenes do for this analyte. Graphenes also do not provide a significant advantage in terms of repeatability. We pose the question of whether the efforts leading to the bulk method of producing single-layer graphene are justified for electroanalytical applications.
authors.affiliation: Division of Chemistry & Biological Chemistry, School of Physical and Mathematical Sciences, Nanyang Technological University, 21 Nanyang Link, Singapore 637371.
authors.forename: Madeline Shuhua
authors.initials: MS
authors.lastname: Goh
authors.forename: Martin
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Pumera