Efficient electron transport across nickel powder modified basal plane pyrolytic graphite electrode: Sensitive detection of sulfhydryl degradation products of the V-type nerve agents

This communication describes the electron transport behaviour of basal plane pyrolytic graphite electrodes (BPPGEs) modified with nickel powder (BPPGE-Ni), single-walled carbon nanotube (BPPGE-SWCNT) and BPPGE-Ni decorated with SWCNT via drop-dry method (BPPGE-Ni-SWCNT). The BPPGE-Ni gave enhanced Faradaic response for the redox probe (Ferricyanide/Ferrocyanide species) and also displayed enhanced electrocatalytic behaviour towards the detection of degradation products of V-type nerve agents, dimethylaminoethanethiol (DMAET) and diethylaminoethanethiol (DEAET) with high sensitivity (∼23 × 10−3 AM−1) and low detection limits (4.0–9.0 μM range). When compared to the notable electrodes and detection protocols reported in the literature, BPPGE-Ni exhibits more promising features required for a simple, highly sensitive, fast and less expensive electrode for the detection of these V-type nerve agents in aqueous solution. The efficient response of the BPPGE-Ni is attributed to the high microscopic surface area of the nickel powder. The poor response of the BPPGE-Ni-SWCNT suggests that nickel impurity in the SWCNT did not show any detectable impact on its electron transfer kinetics.