Role of nanocellulose in tailoring electroanalytical performance of hybrid nanocellulose/multiwalled carbon nanotube electrodes

Abstract Nanocellulose has emerged as a promising green dispersant for carbon nanotubes (CNTs), and there is an increasing trend in developing nanocellulose/CNT hybrid materials electrochemical detection of various small molecules. However, have been very few comprehensive studies investigating the role nanocellulosic material properties upon electroanalytical performance resultant electrodes. In this work, we demonstrate influence both nanocellulose functionalization geometry, utilizing sulfated cellulose nanocrystals, nanofibers, TEMPO-oxidized nanofibers. Transmission electron microscopy tomography enables direct visualization effect on architectures. High resolution X-ray absorption spectroscopy verifies that chemical nature CNTs different hybrids unmodified. Electroanalytical performances electrodes are critically evaluated using physiologically relevant biomolecules with charge such as, dopamine (cationic), paracetamol (neutral), uric acid (anionic). The electrode containing fibrillar geometry high degree sulfate group provides highest sensitivity strongest enrichment towards all studied analytes. These results clearly first time, extent tailorability response biomolecules, offered simply by choice materials.