Voltammetric Detection of Caffeine in Beverages at Nafion/Graphite Nanoplatelets Layer-by-Layer Films
We report for the first time a procedure in which Nafion/Graphite nanoplatelets (GNPs) thin films are fabricated using a modified layer-by-layer (LbL) method. The method consists of dipping a substrate (quartz and/or glassy carbon electrodes) into a composite solution made of Nafion and GNPs dissolv...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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MDPI AG
2019-02-01
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| Series: | Nanomaterials |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2079-4991/9/2/221 |
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| author | Sandra Hernandez-Aldave Afshin Tarat James D. McGettrick Paolo Bertoncello |
| author_facet | Sandra Hernandez-Aldave Afshin Tarat James D. McGettrick Paolo Bertoncello |
| author_sort | Sandra Hernandez-Aldave |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | We report for the first time a procedure in which Nafion/Graphite nanoplatelets (GNPs) thin films are fabricated using a modified layer-by-layer (LbL) method. The method consists of dipping a substrate (quartz and/or glassy carbon electrodes) into a composite solution made of Nafion and GNPs dissolved together in ethanol, followed by washing steps in water. This procedure allowed the fabrication of multilayer films of (Nafion/GNPs)<sub>n</sub> by means of hydrogen bonding and hydrophobic‒hydrophobic interactions between Nafion, GNPs, and the corresponding solid substrate. The average thickness of each layer evaluated using profilometer corresponds to ca. 50 nm. The as-prepared Nafion/GNPs LbL films were characterized using various spectroscopic techniques such as X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDS), FTIR, and optical microscopy. This characterization highlights the presence of oxygen functionalities that support a mechanism of self-assembly via hydrogen bonding interactions, along with hydrophobic interactions between the carbon groups of GNPs and the Teflon-like (carbon‒fluorine backbone) of Nafion. We showed that Nafion/GNPs LbL films can be deposited onto glassy carbon electrodes and utilized for the voltammetric detection of caffeine in beverages. The results showed that Nafion/GNPs LbL films can achieve a limit of detection for caffeine (LoD) of 0.032 μM and linear range between 20‒250 μM using differential pulse voltammetry, whereas, using cyclic voltammetry LoD and linear range were found to be 24 μM and 50‒5000 μM, respectively. Voltammetric detection of caffeine in beverages showed good agreement between the values found experimentally and those reported by the beverage producers. The values found are also in agreement with those obtained using a standard spectrophotometric method. The proposed method is appealing because it allows the fabrication of Nafion/GNPs thin films in a simple fashion using a single-step procedure, rather than using composite solutions with opposite electrostatic charge, and also allows the detection of caffeine in beverages without any pre-treatment or dilution of the real samples. The proposed method is characterized by a fast response time without apparent interference, and the results were competitive with those obtained with other materials reported in the literature. |
| first_indexed | 2024-12-10T18:10:28Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-15e0944d280f4e28a1a294ab740bdd85 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2079-4991 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-12-10T18:10:28Z |
| publishDate | 2019-02-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Nanomaterials |
| spelling | doaj.art-15e0944d280f4e28a1a294ab740bdd852022-12-22T01:38:28ZengMDPI AGNanomaterials2079-49912019-02-019222110.3390/nano9020221nano9020221Voltammetric Detection of Caffeine in Beverages at Nafion/Graphite Nanoplatelets Layer-by-Layer FilmsSandra Hernandez-Aldave0Afshin Tarat1James D. McGettrick2Paolo Bertoncello3Systems and Process Engineering Centre, College of Engineering, Bay Campus, Swansea University, Crwmlyn Burrows, Swansea SA1 8EN, UKPerpetuus Advanced Materials, Unit B1, Olympus Court, Millstream Way, Swansea Vale, Llansamlet, SA7 0AQ, UKSPECIFIC, College of Engineering, Bay Campus, Swansea University, Swansea SA1 8EN, UKSystems and Process Engineering Centre, College of Engineering, Bay Campus, Swansea University, Crwmlyn Burrows, Swansea SA1 8EN, UKWe report for the first time a procedure in which Nafion/Graphite nanoplatelets (GNPs) thin films are fabricated using a modified layer-by-layer (LbL) method. The method consists of dipping a substrate (quartz and/or glassy carbon electrodes) into a composite solution made of Nafion and GNPs dissolved together in ethanol, followed by washing steps in water. This procedure allowed the fabrication of multilayer films of (Nafion/GNPs)<sub>n</sub> by means of hydrogen bonding and hydrophobic‒hydrophobic interactions between Nafion, GNPs, and the corresponding solid substrate. The average thickness of each layer evaluated using profilometer corresponds to ca. 50 nm. The as-prepared Nafion/GNPs LbL films were characterized using various spectroscopic techniques such as X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDS), FTIR, and optical microscopy. This characterization highlights the presence of oxygen functionalities that support a mechanism of self-assembly via hydrogen bonding interactions, along with hydrophobic interactions between the carbon groups of GNPs and the Teflon-like (carbon‒fluorine backbone) of Nafion. We showed that Nafion/GNPs LbL films can be deposited onto glassy carbon electrodes and utilized for the voltammetric detection of caffeine in beverages. The results showed that Nafion/GNPs LbL films can achieve a limit of detection for caffeine (LoD) of 0.032 μM and linear range between 20‒250 μM using differential pulse voltammetry, whereas, using cyclic voltammetry LoD and linear range were found to be 24 μM and 50‒5000 μM, respectively. Voltammetric detection of caffeine in beverages showed good agreement between the values found experimentally and those reported by the beverage producers. The values found are also in agreement with those obtained using a standard spectrophotometric method. The proposed method is appealing because it allows the fabrication of Nafion/GNPs thin films in a simple fashion using a single-step procedure, rather than using composite solutions with opposite electrostatic charge, and also allows the detection of caffeine in beverages without any pre-treatment or dilution of the real samples. The proposed method is characterized by a fast response time without apparent interference, and the results were competitive with those obtained with other materials reported in the literature.https://www.mdpi.com/2079-4991/9/2/221Nafiongraphite nanoplateletscaffeineelectrochemical sensors |
| spellingShingle | Sandra Hernandez-Aldave Afshin Tarat James D. McGettrick Paolo Bertoncello Voltammetric Detection of Caffeine in Beverages at Nafion/Graphite Nanoplatelets Layer-by-Layer Films Nanomaterials Nafion graphite nanoplatelets caffeine electrochemical sensors |
| title | Voltammetric Detection of Caffeine in Beverages at Nafion/Graphite Nanoplatelets Layer-by-Layer Films |
| title_full | Voltammetric Detection of Caffeine in Beverages at Nafion/Graphite Nanoplatelets Layer-by-Layer Films |
| title_fullStr | Voltammetric Detection of Caffeine in Beverages at Nafion/Graphite Nanoplatelets Layer-by-Layer Films |
| title_full_unstemmed | Voltammetric Detection of Caffeine in Beverages at Nafion/Graphite Nanoplatelets Layer-by-Layer Films |
| title_short | Voltammetric Detection of Caffeine in Beverages at Nafion/Graphite Nanoplatelets Layer-by-Layer Films |
| title_sort | voltammetric detection of caffeine in beverages at nafion graphite nanoplatelets layer by layer films |
| topic | Nafion graphite nanoplatelets caffeine electrochemical sensors |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2079-4991/9/2/221 |
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