A high performance electrochemical sensor for acetaminophen based on single-walled carbon nanotube–graphene nanosheet hybrid films

A high performance electrochemical sensor for the detection of acetaminophen (APAP) at the single-walled carbon nanotube (SWCNT)–graphene nanosheet (GNS) hybrid film modified electrode is reported. The morphology and pore structure of the SWCNT–GNS hybrid were characterized by field emission scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and nitrogen isothermal adsorption–desorption technique, respectively. The electrochemical behavior of APAP at the SWCNT–GNS modified glassy carbon (GC) electrode was investigated by cyclic voltammetry. The results showed significantly enhanced electrochemical reactivity and voltammetric response of APAP. The electrochemical sensor based on the hybrid modified electrode exhibited excellent analytical performance for APAP detection in neutral solution with a low detection limit of 38 nM and a wide linear range of 0.05–64.5 μM. Moreover, the SWCNT–GNS/GC electrode also showed good selectivity and stability. The high performances of the novel APAP sensor are mainly attributed to high surface area and multi-modal pore structure of the SWCNT–GNS hybrid, which provide an increased sensing area and effective mass transportation pathway.