Flame synthesis of nitrogen doped carbon for the oxygen reduction reaction and non-enzymatic methyl parathion sensor

Journal Article

, Karikalan, N., M.Velmurugan, S.-M. Chen, C. Karuppiah, K.M. Al-Anazi, M.A. Ali and B.-S. Lou . 2016

• Publication Work Type: KSU Research Work
• Publication Online URL: Flame synthesis of nitrogen doped carbon for the oxygen reduction reaction and non-enzymatic methyl parathion sensor
• Magazine \ Newspaper: RSC Adv.
• Issue Number: 6
• Volume Number: 2016
• Pages: 71507,

Publication Abstract

Growing concerns about the economical feasibility of materials synthesis means that simple methodologies
to furnish materials are needed. Moreover, the multi-functional activity of these as-prepared materials is of
great importance. Hence, here we report nitrogen-doped carbon nanoparticles from a one-step flame
synthesis by directly burning pyrrole at room temperature and in an air atmosphere. The as-synthesized
N-doped carbon was scrutinized as a cathode material for the oxygen reduction reaction and was also
demonstrated in an electrochemical sensor. Furthermore, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) and
Raman analysis was carried out to confirm the percentage of nitrogen content, the bonding environment
and the disorder of carbon. The as-prepared N-doped carbon exhibits superior electrocatalytic activity
towards the ORR compared with a commercial Pt/C catalyst. Moreover, the N-doped carbon modified
glassy carbon electrode manifests a sensitive electrochemical response towards the detection of methyl
parathion. A linear response was demonstrated by the fabricated sensor across two concentration
ranges, from 0.0025 to 1 mM and 1 to 100 mM, with a lower detection limit of 0.068 nM. The proposed
method is very simple, low cost and it can be utilized for practical applications to produce carbon
materials on a large scale.