Ionic liquid–graphene composite for ultratrace explosive trinitrotoluene detection

• DOI: 10.1016/j.elecom.2010.06.028
• Publication Date: 2010-07-02T04:38:26Z
• Authors: Chun Xian Guo; Zhi Song Lu; Yu Lei; Chang Ming Li
• Keywords: 02 engineering and technology; 0210 nano-technology; 01 natural sciences; 0104 chemical sciences

Abstract A new ionic liquid (IL)–graphene composite prepared by combining IL and a three-dimensional graphene material with large specific surface area and pronounced mesoporosity was used for ultratrace trinitrotoluene detection, showing low background current, high sensitivity of 1.65 μA cm − 2 per ppb, low detection limit of 0.5 ppb and good reproducibility, which is much superior to that demonstrated by the IL–CNT and IL–graphite composites. The preparation of IL–graphene composite expands the scope of IL-based electrochemical devices.