Polymer pencil leads as a porous nanocomposite graphite
material for electrochemical applications: The impact of
chemical and thermal treatments

J 2021

Polymer pencil leads as a porous nanocomposite graphite material for electrochemical applications: The impact of chemical and thermal treatments

TRNKOVÁ, Libuše, Iveta TŘÍSKOVÁ, Jan ČECHAL and Zdeněk FARKA

Basic information

Original name

Polymer pencil leads as a porous nanocomposite graphite material for electrochemical applications: The impact of chemical and thermal treatments

Authors

TRNKOVÁ, Libuše (203 Czech Republic, guarantor, belonging to the institution), Iveta TŘÍSKOVÁ (203 Czech Republic, belonging to the institution), Jan ČECHAL (203 Czech Republic) and Zdeněk FARKA (203 Czech Republic, belonging to the institution)

Edition

Electrochemistry Communications, Elsevier Inc. 2021, 1388-2481

Other information

Language

English

Type of outcome

Článek v odborném periodiku

Field of Study

10406 Analytical chemistry

Country of publisher

United States of America

Confidentiality degree

není předmětem státního či obchodního tajemství

References:

URL

Impact factor

Impact factor: 5.443

RIV identification code

RIV/00216224:14310/21:00121332

Organization unit

Faculty of Science

DOI

http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.elecom.2021.107018

UT WoS

000646982700001

Keywords in English

Polymer pencil graphite electrode; Nanocomposite; Microporous electrodes; Siloxanes; Redox processes in chlorides

Abstract

V originále

Pencil graphite electrodes are a simple, disposable, and low-cost alternative to screen-printed graphite electrodes. In terms of stability and sensitivity, pencil electrodes often outperform conventional carbon ones. This paper discusses and emphasizes the superior properties of polymer pencil graphite electrodes (pPeGEs), which can be exploited in the electrochemical analysis of molecules, such as chlorides, whose signals are missing on common graphite electrodes. The chemical and structural behaviour of pencil leads after exposure to acids (HF, HNO3, HClO4) or organic solvents (CH3CN, CH3Cl) was monitored via X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). The electrochemical activity of pristine and treated pPeGEs was studied by the cyclic voltammetry (CV) responses of reversible redox probes [Fe(CN)6]3-/4- and [Ru(NH3)6]3+/2+. XPS proved the presence of siloxanes in the surface matrix of the pencil leads; this finding relates to the hydrophobic surface character of the electrodes. SEM then provided images of the pencil surfaces with microplates and flakes and revealed the removal of siloxanes upon chemical treatment. The CVs of non-dried and dried pPeGEs displayed surface changes in the polymer matrix, accompanied by water loss. Our study shows that the pPeGE retains the character of a stable graphite sensor when exposed to acids and organic solvents, except for HF and chloroform. The discovered effects explain the electrochemical processes occurring on pPeGEs and can contribute to their application in electrochemical sensing and energy storage.

Links

MUNI/A/1424/2019, interní kód MU

Name: Vývoj metod a instrumentace pro analýzu biologicky významných látek 2020

Investor: Masaryk University, Category A

22020140, interní kód MU

Name: Věda v zemích V4 - výzkum nových senzorů pro diagnostiku diabetu (Acronym: Věda v zemích V4 - výzkum nových senzorů)

Investor: International Visegrad Fund (IVF)

90110, large research infrastructures

Name: CzechNanoLab

90127, large research infrastructures

Name: CIISB II

Citovat

TRNKOVÁ, Libuše, Iveta TŘÍSKOVÁ, Jan ČECHAL and Zdeněk FARKA. Polymer pencil leads as a porous nanocomposite graphite material for electrochemical applications: The impact of chemical and thermal treatments. Electrochemistry Communications. Elsevier Inc., 2021, vol. 126, May, p. "107018", 7 pp. ISSN 1388-2481. Available from: https://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.elecom.2021.107018.

@article{1757240,
   author = {Trnková, Libuše and Třísková, Iveta and Čechal, Jan and Farka, Zdeněk},
   article_number = {May},
   doi = {http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.elecom.2021.107018},
   keywords = {Polymer pencil graphite electrode; Nanocomposite; Microporous electrodes; Siloxanes; Redox processes in chlorides},
   language = {eng},
   issn = {1388-2481},
   journal = {Electrochemistry Communications},
   title = {Polymer pencil leads as a porous nanocomposite graphite material for electrochemical applications: The impact of chemical and thermal treatments},
   url = {https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1388248121001028},
   volume = {126},
   year = {2021}
}

TY  - JOUR
ID  - 1757240
AU  - Trnková, Libuše - Třísková, Iveta - Čechal, Jan - Farka, Zdeněk
PY  - 2021
TI  - Polymer pencil leads as a porous nanocomposite graphite material for electrochemical applications: The impact of chemical and thermal treatments
JF  - Electrochemistry Communications
VL  - 126
IS  - May
SP  - "107018"
EP  - "107018"
PB  - Elsevier Inc.
SN  - 13882481
KW  - Polymer pencil graphite electrode
KW  - Nanocomposite
KW  - Microporous electrodes
KW  - Siloxanes
KW  - Redox processes in chlorides
UR  - https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1388248121001028
N2  - Pencil graphite electrodes are a simple, disposable, and low-cost alternative to screen-printed graphite electrodes. In terms of stability and sensitivity, pencil electrodes often outperform conventional carbon ones. This paper discusses and emphasizes the superior properties of polymer pencil graphite electrodes (pPeGEs), which can be exploited in the electrochemical analysis of molecules, such as chlorides, whose signals are missing on common graphite electrodes. The chemical and structural behaviour of pencil leads after exposure to acids (HF, HNO3, HClO4) or organic solvents (CH3CN, CH3Cl) was monitored via X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). The electrochemical activity of pristine and treated pPeGEs was studied by the cyclic voltammetry (CV) responses of reversible redox probes [Fe(CN)6]3-/4- and [Ru(NH3)6]3+/2+. XPS proved the presence of siloxanes in the surface matrix of the pencil leads; this finding relates to the hydrophobic surface character of the electrodes. SEM then provided images of the pencil surfaces with microplates and flakes and revealed the removal of siloxanes upon chemical treatment. The CVs of non-dried and dried pPeGEs displayed surface changes in the polymer matrix, accompanied by water loss. Our study shows that the pPeGE retains the character of a stable graphite sensor when exposed to acids and organic solvents, except for HF and chloroform. The discovered effects explain the electrochemical processes occurring on pPeGEs and can contribute to their application in electrochemical sensing and energy storage.
ER  -

TRNKOVÁ, Libuše, Iveta TŘÍSKOVÁ, Jan ČECHAL and Zdeněk FARKA. Polymer pencil leads as a porous nanocomposite graphite material for electrochemical applications: The impact of chemical and thermal treatments. \textit{Electrochemistry Communications}. Elsevier Inc., 2021, vol.~126, May, p.~''107018'', 7 pp. ISSN~1388-2481. Available from: https://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.elecom.2021.107018.

Detailed Information on Publication Record