Graphene electrochemistry: Surfactants inherent to graphene inhibit metal analysis

We demonstrate for well characterised and commercially available graphene that the surfactant used in its fabrication inhibits the electro-analytical sensing of cadmium(II) via anodic stripping voltammetry. Inspection of the deposition and stripping steps reveals that the surfactant inhibits the latter corresponding to the transition of cadmium metal to cadmium ions; this observation is in distinct contrast to the current electrochemical literature of graphene for metal analysis. (C) 2010 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.