Graphene Electrochemistry: Surfactants Inherent to Graphene Can Dramatically Effect Electrochemical Processes

Surfactants are routinely used in the production of graphene and additionally in their solubilisation with the aim of reducing the likelihood of coalescing. We demonstrate that surfactants, which are an inherent property of graphene, are a major contribution to the electrochemical performance. Using well characterised commercially available graphene we demonstrate that the surfactant may be detrimental in electrochemical processes, for example in the electrochemical oxidation of NADH, used prolifically as the basis of over 300 biosensors, and in the electrochemical oxidation of acetaminophen, an analgesic and antipyretic drug which requires routine monitoring in a plethora of areas. The use of control experiments in the form of surfactant modified carbon electrodes is particularly encouraged in de-convoluting the origin of the electrochemical response of graphene modified electrodes.