A flexible rGO electrode: a new platform for the direct voltammetric detection of salicylic acid

Abstract

Flexible sensors are of considerable interest for the development of wearable smart miniature devices. This work reported a flexible electrochemical platform based on reduced graphene oxide (rGO) for the detection of salicylic acid (SA). The free-standing and flexible rGO electrode was prepared via a simple extruded process. Dynamic mechanical deformation and bending studies illustrated the resilience and compliance of the flexible electrode against extreme mechanical deformations. Quantitative analysis of SA was performed by using differential pulse voltammetry (DPV) with this flexible rGO electrode. Linearity ranges for SA were obtained from 1.0 × 10⁻¹⁰ M to 1.0 × 10⁻⁵ M with the detection limit of 2.3 × 10⁻¹¹ M (S/N = 3). This strategy provided a new insight into the design and application of flexible electrodes. It will extend the applications of rGO in sensing, bio-electronics and lab-on-chip devices.