Synthesis of a clustered carbon aerogel interconnected by carbon balls from the biomass of taros for construction of a multi-functional electrochemical sensor

• Published in: Analytica chimica acta Vol. 1164; p. 338514
• Main Authors: Bi, Yanni, Hei, Yashuang, Wang, Nan, Liu, Jian, Ma, Chong-Bo
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Netherlands Elsevier B.V 15.06.2021
• Subjects: Ascorbic acid; Biomass; Carbon aerogel; Colocasia; Electrochemical sensor; Electrodes; Hydrogen Peroxide; Nanotubes, Carbon; Ascorbic acid; Hydrogen peroxide; Biomass; Electrochemical sensor; Carbon aerogel
• ISSN: 0003-2670; 1873-4324
• DOI: 10.1016/j.aca.2021.338514

In this study, a clustered carbon aerogel interconnected by carbon balls (CCAI-CB) was prepared as an electrode material to construct a multi-functional electrochemical sensor. CCAI-CB derived from taros (Colocasia esculenta (L). Schott) possesses meso-macroporous structure and plenty of defective sites, and shows notable activity in electrocatalysis as an electrode material. We investigated the application of CCAI-CB modified glassy carbon electrode (CCAI-CB/GCE) for determination of ascorbic acid (AA) and hydrogen peroxide (H2O2). Compared with carbon nanotubes (CNTs) modified GCE (CNTs/GCE) and bare GCE, CCAI-CB/GCE shows lower detection limit (0.23 μM for AA and 1.31 μM, S/N = 3), higher sensitivities (220.53, 148.86 or 94.39 μA mM−1 cm−2 for AA and 83.06 or 49.07 μA mM−1 cm−2 for H2O2). Concentrations of AA and H2O2 in real samples were determined at CCAI-CB/GCE with satisfactory detection results obtained. In addition, when the CCAI-CB/GCE was used for electrocatalysis of other biomolecules, it also exhibits high electrochemical activity. Thus, CCAI-CB could be a promising electrode material for the construction of multi-functional electrochemical sensors. [Display omitted] •Taro, as an accessible biomass precursor, was transformed into carbon material for construction the electrochemical sensor.•CCAI-CB shows wide detection range for AA (5–6000 μM) and H2O2 (5–1445 μM), and is eligible for the detection in real samples.•The sensor exhibits remarkable electrochemical activities to different electroactive molecules.