Graphene exfoliated through phytochemicals-compounds containing cathecolic-moieties as a functional nanomaterial for sensors

Phytochemical products start to be employed to assist 2D nanomaterials exfoliation. However, a lack of studies regarding the molecules involved and their capacity to give rise to functional materials is evident.

In this work, a novel green liquid-phase exfoliation strategy (LPE) is proposed wherein a flavonoid namely catechin (CT) exclusively assists the exfoliation of bulk graphite in conductive water-soluble graphene nanoflakes (GF). Physicochemical and electrochemical methods have been employed to characterize the morphological, structural, and electrochemical features of the GF-CT. Surprisingly, the obtained GF-CT integrates well-defined electroactive quinoid adducts. The resulting few-layers graphene flakes intercalated with CT aromatic skeleton ensure strict electrical contact among graphene sheets, whereas the fully reversible quinoid electrochemistry (ΔE= 28 mV, Ip,a/Ip,c= ⁓1) is attributed to the residual catechol moieties, which work as an electrochemical mediator. The GF-CT intimate electrochemistry is generated directly during the LPE of graphite, not requiring any modification or electro-polymerization steps, resulting in stable (8 months) and reproducible material. The electrocatalytic activity has been proven towards hydrazine (HY) and β-nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NADH), a pollutant and a coenzyme, respectively. High sensitivity in extended linear ranges (HY: LOD=0.1 µM, L.R. 0.5-150 µM; NADH: LOD=0.6 µM, L.R. 2.5-200 µM) at low overpotential (+0.15 V) was obtained using amperometry, avoiding electrode-fouling. Improved performances compared with graphite commercial electrodes and graphene exfoliated with a conventional surfactant, were obtained. The GF-CT was successfully used to perform the detection of HY and NADH (recoveries 94-107%, RSD≤8%) in environmental and biological matrices, proving the material exploitability even in challenging analytical applications. On course studies, aim to combine the intrinsic conductivity of the GF-CT with flexible substrates, to construct flexible electrodes/devices able to housing GF-CT-exclusively composed conductive films. In our opinion, the here proposed GF-CT elects itself as a cost-effective and sustainable material, particularly captivating in the (bio)sensoristics scenario.